Thai fishermen recently caught a very rare fish known as the ‘Earthquake Fish’ in the Andaman Sea. According to Japanese folklore, the sighting of a oarfish is considered an omen of earthquakes.
This species is the oarfish, also referred to as “Earthquake Fish”. It is typically found in waters up to 1,000 meters deep and is rarely seen at the surface.
Model of the Earthquake Fish – (Photo: SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE).
This bizarre marine creature can grow up to 11 meters long and was caught by Thai fishermen on January 3rd in the Andaman Sea, as reported by Wionews.
In Japanese folklore, if you ever spot an oarfish in shallow waters, you should prepare for an earthquake or tsunami.
The discovery of the oarfish—just days after a deadly earthquake struck Japan at the beginning of the new year—immediately raised fears among locals in La-ngu, Satun Province, along Thailand’s southwestern coast.
Thai media reported local resident Boomerang as saying: “If an oarfish is spotted near Satun, it may indicate latent concerns about an earthquake along the Andaman coast.”
“And there could also be a tsunami,” the resident added.
Marine ecology lecturer Thō̜n Thamrongnāwāsawat from Kasetsart University in Thailand stated: “Oarfish (Earthquake Fish) live in deep sea waters. When they surface, earthquakes often occur.”
Thō̜n Thamrongnāwāsawat attempted to alleviate local fears by explaining the possible reasons that could bring oarfish into shallower waters, which might be due to cold water from the Indian Ocean flowing into the Andaman Sea.
He noted that due to the extreme bipolar Indian Ocean weather phenomenon, the influx of cold water into the Andaman Sea has resulted in the capture of these rare fish. The bipolar Indian Ocean refers to the uneven oscillation of sea surface temperatures, where the western part of the Indian Ocean becomes warmer while the eastern part becomes cooler.
“While unusual events are occurring in the ocean, understanding the context will help avoid unnecessary alarms,” he concluded.
