A huge 12.5ft long oarfish was washed ashore in the Philippines - sparking fears of a natural disaster.

The deep sea leviathan, believed to be a harbinger of earthquakes, was found by a fisherman heavily injured on a beach in Albuera town, Leyte province, on February 14.

The villager reported the discovery to local wildlife officials. However, the oarfish died before they arrived.

Officials from the Office of Municipal Agriculture said in a statement: 'Upon examination, it was discovered that the oarfish had suffered severe injuries to its face, including disfigurement and heavy bleeding.'

The team sought to reassure worried residents who feared the oarfish could be an omen of an earthquake, with folklore suggesting that their discovery precedes a disaster,

The statement added: 'Oarfish, also known as Regalecus glesne, are deep-sea creatures characterized by their elongated, ribbon-like bodies.

'Found at depths of 200 to 1,000 meters (656 to 3,280 feet), they feed primarily on small fish, squid, and plankton. Despite their rarity, oarfish are often linked to myths, such as predicting earthquakes.

'However, there is no scientific evidence supporting this belief, despite occasional coincidental sightings during seismic events.

'Unfortunately, despite efforts to save it, the injured oarfish was pronounced dead and subsequently buried. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding and conserving the diverse marine life inhabiting our oceans.'

Oarfish live in deep waters in temperate to tropical regions. Because they thrive in great depths, few of them can survive being pulled to shallow waters where currents are more turbulent.

Oarfish sightings have been linked to earthquakes, though the belief has no scientific basis.