A rare deep-sea creature known as the oarfish has washed ashore on Playa Quemada in the Canary Islands, sparking fears of impending disaster among locals.
The elusive fish was discovered by bathers on the beach, with footage of the incident going viral on Instagram, amassing over nine million views.
The appearance of this mysterious creature, typically found in the ocean’s depths, has caused widespread concern among observers.
A video captured a man in swim shorts approaching the silver-coloured creature, which was notable for its striking translucent orange fins.
A rare deep-sea creature known as the oarfish has washed ashore (not pictured)
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The man’s attempt to rescue the mysterious fish was documented in the viral footage, drawing attention to the rare specimen’s distinctive appearance.
In Japanese mythology, the oarfish is known as “Ryūgū no tsukai” – the messenger of the Sea God.
The creature has long been associated with foreboding predictions, with folklore linking its appearance to catastrophic events such as earthquakes, tsunamis and hurricanes.
Social media users have expressed alarm at the sighting, with one commenter writing: “Something bad is going to happen.” Another stated: “They show up before natural disasters.”
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The creature washed ashore on Playa Quemada in the Canary Islands, sparking fears of impending disaster among locals
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The oarfish typically inhabits the mesopelagic zone, approximately 3,300 feet below the ocean’s surface, where light cannot penetrate.
These mysterious creatures can grow up to 20 feet in length, making their presence in shallow waters particularly unusual.
The species’ deep-water habitat has made it notoriously difficult for scientists to study, with surface sightings being extremely rare.
Online commentators have urged people to return any discovered specimens to the sea, fearing their presence could signal impending seismic activity.
These mysterious creatures can grow up to 20 feet in length, making their presence in shallow waters particularly unusual
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This sighting follows a similar incident in California, where a nearly 10-foot-long oarfish was discovered last week on a beach in Encinitas.
The California specimen was found by Alison Laferriere, a PhD candidate at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.
It marked the second such discovery on California’s coastline since November 2024, further fuelling concerns about these rare appearances of the deep-sea creature.