12.5-Foot Oarfish Spotted Bloody, Disfigured on a Beach in the Philippines Sparks Fear; Why Is This Fish Dubbed 'Harbinger of Doom'?

A giant fish washed ashore on a beach in the Philippines. However, the sight alarmed the locals, who believed it could signify an impending calamity.

Rare Oarfish Washed Ashore in the Philippines

A rare 12.5-foot oarfish was found on a beach in the Philippines. The marine creature was bloody and severely injured, even disfigured. The sighting has sparked fears of an imminent natural disaster.

Fishermen who found the ribbon-shaped fish on Wednesday noticed that it was bleeding profusely. When the enormous eel-like creature was spotted, villagers quickly alerted the local wildlife officials to try to save the oarfish, but it passed away before they could get to the coast.

"Upon examination, it was discovered that the oarfish had suffered severe injuries to its face, including disfigurement and heavy bleeding. Upon examination, it was discovered that the oarfish had suffered severe injuries to its face, including disfigurement and heavy bleeding," according to the Office of Municipal Agriculture.

Regalecus glesne, commonly known as oarfish, are creatures of the deep water that are distinguished by their long, ribbon-like bodies. The injured oarfish was declared dead and buried after rescue attempts failed.

This event serves as a reminder of how crucial it is to comprehend and protect the variety of marine species that live in our oceans. Even though the massive and elongated animal prefers to live in deeper waters, it struggles to survive when violent currents push it into shallower water.

Plankton, squid, and tiny fish are their primary food sources.

The report about the dead oarfish came after a scuba diver saw one off the coast of Taiwan. The enormous oarfish, which has dazzling silver scales, was seen drifting strangely upright close to Taipei's Ruifang District.

"I was diving with the group, and we immediately recognized the earthquake fish. It was a very special encounter, as I've never seen one in real life before," said diving instructor Wang Cheng-Ru, who captured the encounter.

"There were holes in the oarfish's body, which probably came from a shark attack. I hope that this is not a bad omen."

One diver reportedly reached out to touch the fish, but it flinched.

@abc7chicago Divers discover giant oarfish off coast of Taiwan, seen as symbol of impending disaster ♬ original sound - abc7chicago

Why Oarfish Are Deemed Bad Omen?

Residents have become scared after discovering the giant oarfish due to superstition. They believed that seeing the animal could hint at an impending earthquake, which was also evident in how the diver called the oarfish the "earthquake fish." The fish is also called "Harbinger of Doom."

The lengthy creature, known as "ryugu no tsukai" in Japanese mythology, is infamous for being a bad omen or for being a messenger from the god's palace in the sea. The story was not completely baseless, though, as oarfish was reportedly seen before natural disasters like earthquake or tsunamis occur.

According to reports, a dozen oarfish washed ashore between 2010 and 2011 before the Tohoku earthquake, which killed over 20,000 people. Many mystics utilized the story to bolster their theory.

Oarfish are uncommon, yet they are frequently associated with legends, such as the ability to foresee earthquakes. Despite sporadic coincidental sightings during seismic events, there is no scientific evidence to support this view.

Authorities have asked locals to maintain their composure and have stated that the Japanese folktales are untrue.

Check out more news and information on ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE in Science Times.