An upcoming total solar eclipse scheduled for next week has stirred panic among conspiracy theorists, with many speculating that the celestial event might be a harbinger of the apocalypse.
Set to happen on April 8, the eclipse will involve the moon blocking out the sun's light for just over four minutes across a limited area of North America.
While several city and state authorities have advised the public to exercise caution due to potential spikes in emergency calls and rushes on essential supplies, conspiracy theorists have amplified these warnings, interpreting them as signs of something more ominous.
In fact, they're claiming the path of the eclipse will pass over seven towns in North America named "Nineveh," a city in the Bible that was described as "evil." They also insist the event will plunge the world into darkness for seven days.
One conspiracy theorist said the 2017 solar eclipse "passed over seven towns named Salem" and that this year the Nineveh connection requires listeners to remember the story of Jonah—who is sent by God to prophesy the destruction of Nineveh, but attempts to escape his divine mission—and repent.
However, only two cities named Nineveh will experience the full totality of the solar eclipse, while other cities with the same name will witness only a partial eclipse. Nevertheless, it's essential to note that the name of the cities holds no influence on the natural occurrence.
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Another predicted the end of the world because there will be "no breaks or periods of light." They recommended listeners "stock up on food, water, candles, and other essential items." They claimed that "all sunlight will be blocked" and encouraged people to "stay at home and avoid traveling for safety reasons."
Their claim is bogus. The event is anticipated to be of much shorter duration and will impact specific regions in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The entire Earth will not experience darkness during the eclipse, except momentarily for individuals within the path of totality.
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@your_fave_shop Darkness in 3 days on April 8, 2024 totoo ba? #darkness #3days #endoftheworld #highlights #realtalk #
These claims and more were amplified by the far-right conspiracy website The Gateway Pundit.
The ridiculousness of these claims exposed these conspiracy theorists to significant online mockery.
During the solar eclipse, the moon will align perfectly between the Earth and the sun, blocking out sunlight. Over the course of a couple of hours, the moon's shadow will traverse diagonally from the southwest to the northeast across North America, momentarily casting communities along its path into darkness.
Fifteen U.S. states will witness the event, albeit with Tennessee and Michigan just catching the edge. Cities directly in the eclipse's path include Dallas, Little Rock in Arkansas, Indianapolis, Cleveland in Ohio, Buffalo in New York, and Montreal, making it the largest gathering of eclipse viewers on the continent.
The eclipse will traverse a densely populated path, increasing the likelihood of more people witnessing it. Beginning on the Pacific coast of Mexico, it will travel northeastward, passing through Texas, Oklahoma, and extending all the way up to New England before fading into Canada.
The Independent notes that approximately 44 million individuals reside within the 115-mile-wide path of totality spanning from Mexico to Canada, with about 32 million located in the United States alone.
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