The top video is featured on LiveLeak this morning, the bottom comes from Gabe at Ace’s place. Both were allegedly shot within an hour before the big quake hit. There’s no way to rule out a hoax — the videos do appear to have been shot in different locations, but that’s S.O.P. for YouTube F/X shenanigans — but do note that this is not the first time odd lights have been spotted before a monster quake in China. Which way does that detail cut? Is it corroborating evidence or just the origin of the hoax, playing upon some sort of cultural memory of the earlier disaster? Anyone know anything about this? A few theories here.

Oh, and here’s the obligatory DU thread blaming the U.S. for causing it.