In a video published on April 9, the TikTok astrologer warned that an earthquake would soon strike all cities in Myanmar.
In the video, which has received over three million views, he describes the predicted quake as "very strong" and urges people in the country to stay away from high-rise buildings. In other clips, he also predicts other natural disasters and American air strikes against Myanmar.
It's only been a little over a month since Myanmar was hit by a powerful earthquake, where over 3,700 people died and many more were injured.
The video has led to strong reactions from the country's military government, and on Tuesday, John Moe The, the TikTok astrologer, was arrested at his home. In a statement, Myanmar's regime says measures will be taken against the 21-year-old to prevent the creation and spread of "fake news".
One person who was affected by the video is 35-year-old Nan Nan. She tells the news agency AFP that she didn't believe the content herself, but that others in her surroundings did.
Most of my neighbors didn't dare stay in their apartments that day, they stayed out on the streets. A friend of mine even rented a house outside the city, she says.
There are warning systems for earthquakes that send out signals at an early stage. But according to the American research institute United States Geological Survey (USGS), it is scientifically impossible to predict earthquakes long in advance.
