This footage shows thousands of dead fish covering the sand at a popular Chilean beach after they washed up in strange circumstances.
Residents of the peninsula of Coliumo in the central Chilean region of Biobio woke up to the unusual sight of thousands of dead fish covering the coastline on the morning of 19th February.
The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) said it is sending a team of experts to the area to carry out an investigation and determine the exact cause of death.
Images of the piles of dead fish covering the sand at Coliumo Beach were widely shared on social media.
According to local reports, the dead fish were mainly made up of sardines and anchovies.
The phenomenon was reported to the authorities by local fishermen and tourists visiting the coast that morning.
Residents and visitors to the picturesque peninsula woke up and found Coliumo Bay covered in thousands of washed-up anchovies and sardines.
Sernapesca said it is assembling a team of experts to visit the scene, carry out tests, and establish the exact cause of the mass fish deaths.
A similar incident took place along the coast of the Biobio region in 2021 and Sernapesca carried out an investigation, concluding that the fish were killed by a low amount of oxygen in the water.
Many local residents said that something similar has occurred again, as the fish swim close to the shore in search of oxygen and nutrients.
The investigation is ongoing.
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