Two men in Bao’an District were detained for making and circulating rumors online, causing panic among the public Sunday when Typhoon Mangkhut, the strongest typhoon in decades, affected the city, according to the police authority in Bao’an District.
On Sunday morning, as Mangkhut was approaching, some rumors were spread, such as a plan to cut the water supply and power supply at 3 a.m., which was later altered to 8 p.m.
Despite the denial of the water affairs bureau and power supply bureau through various channels, the rumor caused panic among residents who started to store water in different types of containers for future use.
According to the official microblog of the Bao’an District Public Security Bureau, on Monday, the two suspects, a man surnamed Ye, 30, and another surnamed Hong, 26, admitted to starting the rumor after they were caught.