Why a giant deep sea creature, caught in Chile, had locals panicking

A 16-foot monster fish, caught by a group of fishermen in Chile, sent locals into a panic recently. The oarfish is believed to be a harbinger of earthquakes and tsunamis, their sighting considered a bad omen in certain cultures. Dwelling in the dark waters of the deep sea and rarely seen near the shore, these elusive creatures are the world’s longest bony fish.

According to The Mirror, a group of fishermen from the city of Arica in Chile recently reeled in a 16-foot oarfish. Locals quickly gathered to catch a glimpse of the colossal, serpent-like creature. A video first posted on TikTok shows how the oarfish was hoisted up to show off its enormous size.

The footage went viral with over 10 million views on TikTok, where many were convinced that its sighting would bring bad luck. Several viewers said they believed the creature’s proximity to the shore signalled imminent underwater earthquakes.

This belief is rooted in legends that oarfish, that live between 200 and 1,000 metres deep, only beach themselves on shores ahead of underwater earthquakes. But scientists dispute these claims.