Footage on social media shows tourists trying to pull the three-meter-long, stranded animals back into the water. In some cultures the animals are considered “Doomsday fish“. According to National Geographic, the animals were thought to be sea monsters in the past. In Japanese mythology, the “oarfish” in particular is considered a bad omen.

Oarfish is said to predict natural disasters

He is also said to prophesy natural disasters such as earthquakes. In 2011, according to media reports, around 20 oarfish were sent to the Japanese coast have been washed ashore. Shortly afterwards the Tōhoku earthquake occurred, which subsequently caused the tsunami and thus the Fukushima nuclear disaster triggered.

The sighting of fish is rather rare. The animals normally live in the sea at depths of up to 900 meters and can reach a length of up to nine meters. According to media reports, animals washed up on the beach are often sick or no longer able to swim due to injuries.