Rare 'Harbringer of Doom' oarfish found on beach sparking natural disaster fears

16 February 2024 , 08:16

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Rare 'Harbringer of Doom' oarfish found on beach sparking natural disaster fears

A 12.5ft oarfish was found with severe injuries on a beach in Leyte province, Philippines earlier this week, it's been revealed.

The deep sea fish - dubbed the 'harbinger of doom' - was found by a fisherman on Wednesday February 14, when they were exploring the beach. The villager immediately called the local wildlife officials, hoping they might be able to save the poor sea creature. But, the oarfish died before they made it to the beach, owing to the horrific injuries on its face, which included "disfigurement and heavy bleeding".

Oarfish are extremely rare deep sea creatures that look like a cross between an eel and a snake. They usually live in depths of up to 1,000m, feeding on small fish in tropical oceans. It's incredibly rare that they're seen in smaller depths, as ocean currents pull them to shallower shores where they become beached.

Oarfish are extremely rare deep sea creatures (ViralPress)

Oarfish have also been linked to natural disasters, with some mystics claiming their discovery precedes a major earthquake. But, officials urged locals not to panic after the latest discovery, insisting there was no substance to the folklore. The Office of Municipal Agriculture said in a statement: "Upon examination, it was discovered that the oarfish had suffered severe injuries to its face, including disfigurement and heavy bleeding. Oarfish, also known as Regalecus glesne, are deep-sea creatures characterised by their elongated, ribbon-like bodies.

Some people claimed an oarfish discovery precedes a major earthquake (ViralPress)

"Found at depths of 200m to 1,000m (656ft to 3,280ft), they feed primarily on small fish, squid, and plankton. Despite their rarity, oarfish are often linked to myths, such as predicting earthquakes. However, there is no scientific evidence supporting this belief, despite occasional coincidental sightings during seismic events.

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This oarfish reached almost 13ft in length (ViralPress)

"Unfortunately, despite efforts to save it, the injured oarfish was pronounced dead and subsequently buried. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding and conserving the diverse marine life inhabiting our oceans."

Meanwhile, just last month an oarfish was found in the Andaman Sea by Thai fishermen. At the time, one local claimed everyone should be ready for a natural disaster. Marine ecology lecturer Thō̜n Thamrongnāwāsawat of Kasetsart University said: “The Andaman Sea is deep, with depths of up to 2,000 metres in Thailand. However, oarfish are not typically caught, as people generally don’t fish in deep waters.”

Matt Atherton