A rare 12.5-foot oarfish, which was discovered bloodied and disfigured off the coast of the Philippines, has sparked fears of an imminent natural disaster.
A fisherman on Wednesday saw the ribbon-shaped fish, also known as the ‘Harbinger of Doom’, bleeding profusely and with serious injuries to its face.
Its discovery has generated fear among locals, as the most superstitious believe that the sighting of the animal indicates an imminent earthquake.
In Japanese mythology, the elongated creature is known to be a bad omen, nicknamed ‘ryugu no tsukai’ or messenger from God’s palace in the sea.
About a dozen oarfish washed ashore between 2010 and 2011 before the Tohoku earthquake that killed more than 20,000 people, an argument many mystics used to support the theory.
Rare 12.5-foot oarfish discovered bloodied and disfigured off the coast of Leyte province, Philippines
Its discovery has sparked fear among locals as mystics believe this rare ribbon-shaped fish indicates impending earthquakes.
Although this folklore holds that with their arrival comes doom, no connection between natural disasters and oarfish has ever been scientifically proven.
Villagers immediately contacted local wildlife officials to save the oarfish when it was discovered, however the giant eel-like creature passed by before they reached shore.
Authorities have urged residents to remain calm, insisting that Japanese folklore is not true.
The Municipal Agricultural Bureau said: ‘Upon examination, it was found that the oarfish had suffered serious injuries to its face, including disfigurement and heavy bleeding.
‘Oarfish, also known as Regalecus glesne, are deep-sea creatures characterized by their elongated ribbon-shaped bodies.
«Despite its rarity, the oarfish is often linked to myths, such as the prediction of earthquakes. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this belief, despite occasional coincidental sightings during seismic events.
‘Unfortunately, despite efforts to save it, the injured oarfish was declared dead and subsequently buried. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding and conserving the diverse marine life that inhabits our oceans.’
Oarfish live in warmer, more tropical regions at ocean depths of up to 3,280 feet.
Although this large, very elongated creature tends to thrive in deeper water, when they are swept into shallower water by turbulent currents, they struggle to survive.
They feed mainly on small fish, plankton and squid.
This comes after a diver spotted a giant oarfish off the coast of Taiwan.
The giant oarfish with shiny silver scales was spotted floating eerily upright near Taipei’s Ruifang district.
He appeared to have several holes on his body which were believed to be bites inflicted while escaping a shark attack.
The Municipal Agriculture Bureau has urged locals in Leyte province to remain calm, stating that there is no truth behind the Japanese folklore surrounding the elongated fish.
A diver reached out to pet the oarfish, known colloquially as an “earthquake fish,” which shuddered at the touch.
Diving instructor Wang Cheng-Ru, who captured the encounter, said: “I was diving with the group and we immediately recognized the earthquake fish. It was a very special encounter as I had never seen one in real life before.
‘There were holes in the oarfish’s body which were probably due to a shark attack. I hope this is not a bad omen.’
The diving instructor said the giant fish was close to the surface as it was likely dying after the attack.