TAIPEI, Jan 6: In a captivating moment, divers off the coast of Taiwan have captured a rare sight of a giant oarfish, believed by some to be a harbinger of earthquakes. The enormous creature, adorned with shimmering silver scales, was observed floating eerily upright near Ruifang District in Taipei.

The oarfish, colloquially known as the 'earthquake fish,' measured a remarkable 8 feet in length and displayed several visible holes in its body, indicative of possible shark bites sustained during a daring escape. A courageous diver cautiously reached out to stroke the oarfish, which flinched in response to the touch.

Diving instructor Wang Cheng-Ru, who documented the encounter, expressed the uniqueness of the experience: "I was diving with the group, and we immediately recognized the earthquake fish. It was a very special encounter, as I've never seen one in real life before. There were holes in the oarfish's body, which probably came from a shark attack. I hope that this is not a bad omen."

Cheng-Ru suggested that the giant fish's proximity to the surface indicated its potential demise following the reported shark attack.

Oarfish, known to reach lengths of up to 26 feet, with unconfirmed sightings suggesting sizes of up to 50 feet, are associated in folklore with predicting natural disasters, particularly earthquakes and tsunamis. However, this connection lacks scientific validation.

These elusive creatures typically inhabit depths ranging from 650 to 3,300 feet, making sightings in the wild extremely rare. Occasionally, they venture closer to the surface, providing a glimpse for those fortunate enough to witness them.

Due to their preference for great depths, oarfish struggle to survive when brought into shallow waters with more turbulent currents. Notably, a 20-foot oarfish was pulled from the ocean off the Chilean coast in July 2022, raising concerns of an impending earthquake that, fortunately, did not materialize. The mysterious nature of these giant fish continues to captivate and fuel speculation about their potential connection to seismic events.