Oarfish strandings in Philippines could mean massive quake coming

According to legend, the oarfish is a harbinger of earthquakes.

People in the Philippines are concerned after Oarfish began stranding themselves on beaches in February. Following the first stranding on Mindanao, a major quake struck the island. Now, more oarfish have beached themselves and the concern is that more quakes will follow.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- The oarfish is a deep-sea dweller that has only rarely been captured alive on film. The long, flat fish can grow to be at least 23 feet long or possibly longer. Some think they could be the origin of sea serpent myths. No known fish is longer.

They have rarely been seen alive, and only wash ashore occasionally. Live strandings do sometimes occur, perhaps a few each year somewhere in the Pacific.

A Japanese legend about the oarfish is they serve as a harbinger of earthquakes. Being deep sea fish, they almost never come to the surface and are exceedingly rare on the beach. However, their appearance has been associated with earthquakes since ancient times.

Scientists are skeptical about the connection, but some hypothesize they are susceptible to seismic activity. There may be some form of precursor energy that remains unknown or poorly understood to science that propagates though the deep sea. This energy may disorient a minority of the oarfish, causing a few to come to the surface where tides can push them ashore.

Oarfish appear to be relatively weak, and once caught up in waves and tides, they cannot easily return to the depths.

In the Philippines, at least six oarfish have washed up in the month of February alone on the island of Mindanao. This has alarmed people who believe they predict quakes.

Six is also an unprecedented number. Two or three is considered incredible, but six suggests what is coming is a much more than a simple quake, but a cataclysm.

The residents of Mindanao are bracing for danger. Unfortunately, there is no way of telling when a quake could occur. Days to months could pass, but if the oarfish are harbingers of quakes, then one is coming soon, and it will be big.

Regardless, it is always wise to be prepared, oarfish or not.