A rare oarfish, measuring around four meters in length, was found washed ashore in Mui Ne, drawing crowds of curious onlookers and foreign tourists.
A 4-meter-long oarfish was found washed ashore at Ham Tien Beach in Mui Ne Ward on the morning of March 24. Photo: V.D.
On the morning of March 24, local residents discovered the dead oarfish along the shoreline of Ham Tien ward in Mui Ne, Lam Dong province.
The unusual sight quickly attracted attention, with many beachgoers and tourists gathering to observe and take photos. Locals later brought the fish ashore, cleaned it, and conducted a burial according to traditional customs.
Notably, just two days earlier, on March 22, another oarfish of similar size had also washed ashore at Tam Tan beach in Tan Hai commune, Lam Dong province, near the Dinh Thay Thim area. That specimen was likewise buried following local rituals at Van Dinh Ong.
Residents believe the species is sacred, rarely seen, and often appears in pairs.
Local residents bury the oarfish discovered on March 22 along the coast of Tan Hai Commune in accordance with local customs. Photo: T.H.
The oarfish is considered one of the longest bony fish in the world. It has a flat, ribbon-like body with a silvery sheen and a striking red dorsal fin running along its length. Typically inhabiting depths of 200 to 1,000 meters below sea level, the species rarely approaches coastal areas.
Oarfish commonly measure between three and eight meters but can grow up to 17 meters in length and weigh around 270 kilograms.
The species is also linked to various legends, including beliefs that it is a “messenger from the sea god’s palace,” sometimes associated with omens of earthquakes or tsunamis.
Vietnamnet.vn
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