Oarfish sparks earthquake fears as it washes ashore in Quezon

February 6, 2026 – 3:22 PM

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An oarfish was found dead on a beach after washing ashore, sparking earthquake fears among locals in the Philippines.

The 11-foot (3-meter) deep-sea creature was spotted by fishermen who went out early in the morning and instead discovered the unusual fish in Quezon province.

Footage shows the marine animal, weighing 22 kilograms, lying on the sand as worried residents gathered around on February 4.

The sighting was reported to authorities, who sent a team to handle the carcass and collect specimens for further study.

“We did not know at first what kind of fish it was. We saw it near the port. My neighbors told me it could be a sign of something bad,” resident Marlon Butardo said.

“They said these fish only appear when there is an earthquake or a strong typhoon, so we are scared,” he said.

The silver colored fish was later collected by officers from the Municipal Agriculturist Office and buried.

Many people believe oarfish predict earthquakes, but there is no scientific proof that they do, even though they sometimes appear before or after earthquakes.