A deep sea oarfish which is said to predict natural disasters has washed up on a beach.
A group of shocked children held up the giant beast in their hands.
It was then stretched out on the sand on a straight piece of tree bark as locals take snaps with their phones.
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Later that night, a group of locals apparently ate the large fish during a beach feast.
The sea creature washed up near Huế City in Vietnam.
It is often called the ‘harbinger of natural disasters’
One local said: “One of the best-known legends is that the sighting of an oarfish portends natural disasters, particularly earthquakes and tsunamis.”
Daniel said: “There will be a cataclysm then.”
Gustavo wrote: “An earthquake is coming!”
Due to their size and shape, oarfish resemble ‘sea serpents’ and are considered harbingers of earthquakes and misfortune in mythology.
They are considered one of the longest fish in the ocean and can measure up to 55 feet in length and weigh over 440 lbs.
Due to their ability to adapt to different temperatures, oarfish are found in most of the world’s oceans with the exception of the poles.
They live at depths of between 200 and 1,000 metres (656 and 3,280 feet) and sightings are not very common.
Sometimes they wash up on beaches after a storm or when they suffer a serious injury.
When they do appear, many locals take it as a sign that a natural disaster is about to strike, as reported by Need To Know.
Scientific studies have shown there are no valid claims in the myth.
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