Locals fear there may be an earthquake and even a tsunami after fishermen caught a doomsday harbinger oarfish.
The elongated fish is usually found in the depths of the ocean and is rarely seen by human eyes.
According to legend, the sight of an oarfish in shallow waters is an omen of earthquakes.
It has even been dubbed the “earthquake fish”.
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The specimen in question was caught in the Andaman Sea by fishermen from La-ngu district, Satun Province, Thailand.
The eerie-looking creature was caught on Wednesday (3 Jan).
Wannarrong Sa-ard said: “It looks like an oarfish.”
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Marine ecology lecturer Thō̜n Thamrongnāwāsawat of Kasetsart University added: “The Andaman Sea is deep, with depths of up to 2,000 metres in Thailand.
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“However, oarfish are not typically caught, as people generally don’t fish in deep waters.”
The fact it was caught at typical fishing depths has spooked locals, who fear that a natural disaster may be imminent.
One – named Boomerange – said: “If encountering an oarfish in the vicinity of Satun, it may indicate a potential concern for an earthquake along the Andaman coast.
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“And there could be a tsunami as well.”
Watcharapong added: “Oarfish, nicknamed the ‘earthquake fish’, is a deep-sea fish.
“When it surfaces, earthquakes often occur.”
And Buhya warned: “With the sea in turmoil, be ready to face natural disasters.”
But Dr Thamrongnāwāsawat sought to calm fears.
He wrote: “Recently, the cold water entering the Andaman Sea has led to unusual fish sightings due to the Indian Ocean Dipole.
“Previously, a Mola mola was caught in a net, and now an oarfish. It’s plausible that these fish are following the cold water mass.”
The expert added: “While unusual events occur in the ocean, understanding the context helps avoid unnecessary alarm.”
The giant oarfish is thought to live at depths around 3,300ft (1,000m).
It is the longest known living species of bony fish, reaching a length of 56ft (17m) and weighing up to 600lb (270kg).
It is plentiful in the wild and feeds on tiny plankton.
Giant oarfish are rarely seen at the surface. Scientists think they wash up when in distress or dying, or after storms or strong currents.
They are related to Russell’s oarfish known in Japan as “Messengers from the Sea God’s Palace”.
According to traditional belief, if they wash up, an earthquake may be coming.
According to Japanese geologist Kiyoshi Wadatsumi, this could be based in science.
He said in a 2013 report: “Deep-sea fish living near the sea bottom are more sensitive to the movements of active faults than those near the surface of the sea.”
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