Myanmar authorities have detained a popular TikTok astrologer for allegedly spreading fear by predicting a powerful earthquake just weeks after a deadly tremor struck the country, according to state media reports on Thursday.
John Moe The, a 21-year-old content creator with over 300,000 followers on TikTok, posted a video on April 9 claiming that a “very strong” earthquake would hit “every city in Myanmar” within 12 days. His post, which included warnings to avoid tall buildings and prepare to flee, garnered over 3.3 million views.
The prediction came in the wake of a devastating earthquake last month that killed over 3,700 people and displaced around 60,000, many of whom are still living in temporary shelters due to ongoing aftershocks, according to UN data.
Authorities said Moe The was arrested during a Tuesday morning raid at his residence in Monywa, located in central Myanmar. A statement from the military-led government said the arrest followed a tip-off regarding “false news” being shared on social media, which they claim could incite panic.
“He spread false information about an impending severe earthquake,” the government said. “We will take firm legal action not only against him but also against anyone who creates, circulates, or promotes such misinformation.”
While some, like Yangon resident Nan Nan, dismissed the prediction, others took it seriously. “Many of my neighbors refused to stay in their apartments and slept on the streets that day,” she said. “One of my friends even rented a small house outside the city just in case.”
John Moe The’s TikTok page, named “John (Palmistry),” regularly features cosmic-themed videos with predictions, including claims about natural disasters, political events such as the release of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and alleged foreign military actions in Myanmar.
Despite widespread interest in earthquake forecasts, scientific agencies have stressed that predicting earthquakes in advance is not currently possible. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has explicitly stated that no reliable method for forecasting major tremors exists.
“Neither the USGS nor any other scientists have ever predicted a major earthquake,” the agency states. “We do not know how, and we do not expect to know how any time soon.”
Authorities in Myanmar have reiterated their commitment to curbing misinformation and maintaining public order amid ongoing recovery efforts following the recent disaster.