Tiktok Astrologer Arrested After Earthquake Prediction Goes Viral

A viral TikTok astrologer prediction led to nan apprehension of a 21-year-old successful Myanmar. His posts caused nationwide panic and raised questions astir free look successful nan integer age. The now-deleted TikTok station claimed that a awesome earthquake would onslaught Myanmar connected April 21 betwixt noon and 1 p.m.

It racked up complete 3 cardinal views and dispersed to nan user’s 300,000 followers and beyond.

Earthquake panic follows TikTok post

The user, who went by “John Moe The,” posted a bid of photos predicting a beardown earthquake. His prediction came conscionable 2 weeks aft a 7.7-magnitude quake killed complete 3,500 people successful Southeast Asia.

One of nan slides read, “Don’t enactment successful gangly buildings connected that day… enactment distant from beaches and places wherever landslides tin occur.” He besides urged viewers to battalion basal items and tally from buildings if needed.

Many group followed nan warning. One resident told AFP astir of her neighbors spent nan time surviving extracurricular for fearfulness nan quake would happen.

Authorities responded quickly. A connection obtained by nan BBC said John was arrested for making “false statements pinch nan volition of causing nationalist panic.”

Myanmar cracks down connected viral misinformation

Myanmar’s State Administration Council has stepped up efforts to monitor online content. In 2023, it created a committee to ace down connected clone news and behaviour round-the-clock media surveillance.

John’s predictions went further than earthquakes. According to nan Daily Mail, John besides forecasted different disasters and moreover claimed location would beryllium American airstrikes connected Myanmar territory.

Turkish astrologer besides detained

John isn’t nan only astrologer facing backlash this year. In February, a well-known Turkish astrologer was detained aft predicting nan decease of a high-ranking governmental leader.

She posted connected X, “I deliberation Devlet Bahçeli should person his lungs checked. If I’m nan champion aesculapian astrologer successful nan country, which I am, he has a very superior lung problem and shortness of breath.” 

She past claimed he would dice earlier nan adjacent predetermination and that nan authorities would collapse. Legal proceedings against her are ongoing, according to The Sun.

Astrology vs. science

As of Friday, Myanmar officials had not released updates connected John’s position aliases immoderate further charges.

Despite skepticism, astrology continues to resonate. A 2022 YouGov canvass recovered that complete one successful 4 Americans judge successful astrology. Among adults nether 30, 37% said nan positions of stars and planets effect people’s lives.

However, erstwhile it comes to earthquakes, subject disagrees. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) states, “Neither nan USGS nor immoderate different scientists person ever predicted a awesome earthquake. We do not cognize how, and we do not expect to cognize really immoderate clip successful nan foreseeable future.”