**Astrologer Arrested After Viral Earthquake Prediction Triggers Panic in Myanmar**

Authorities in Myanmar have apprehended an astrologer for inciting widespread fear through a viral TikTok video predicting a massive earthquake.

John Moe The, the astrologer in question, shared his alarming forecast on April 9, just two weeks after a devastating magnitude 7.7 quake claimed approximately 3,500 lives and wreaked havoc on historic temples in Myanmar. The Myanmar Information Ministry announced his arrest on Tuesday for allegedly making "false statements with the intention of causing public panic."

In his widely viewed video, which has garnered over three million views, John Moe The ominously warned that every city in Myanmar would experience an earthquake on April 21. Experts have pointed out the impracticality of earthquake predictions due to the unpredictable nature of geological factors. Despite this, the astrologer's warnings sparked panic among locals.

"You should run away from buildings during the shaking," urged John Moe The in his video, which also suggested people stay away from tall structures during the day. Reports indicate that many residents, believing the prediction, chose to camp outside their homes on the day he predicted the earthquake would strike.

John Moe The's TikTok account, which has since been disabled, claimed to provide insights based on astrology and palmistry and boasted more than 300,000 followers. He was arrested in a raid on his residence in Sagaing, central Myanmar, where a significant portion of the recent earthquake's devastation unfolded. The aftermath of the March 28 quake was severe enough to prompt a rare appeal for international assistance from the Myanmar junta.

The earthquake was so powerful that its tremors were felt as far away as Bangkok, Thailand, where the collapse of a construction site resulted in multiple fatalities.