Whale carcass weighing over 5 tons found washed ashore on the coast of Nghe An province.
At noon on March 20th, a whale carcass, nearly 10 meters long and weighing approximately 5 tons, washed ashore on the beach of Hai Chau commune, Nghe An province. Local authorities, in coordination with residents, salvaged the carcass and buried it according to the customs of the fishermen.
At noon on March 20th, fishermen in the coastal area of Phu Thanh hamlet, Hai Chau commune (formerly Dien Kim commune) discovered a large whale carcass washed ashore by the waves. The incident was immediately reported to the local authorities.
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According to the Hai Chau commune authorities, the whale carcass measured nearly 10 meters in length and was estimated to weigh over 5 tons. Its body had turned a brownish-white color, showing signs of advanced decomposition and emitting a foul odor, suggesting the whale may have died several weeks before washing ashore.
Upon discovering the incident, authorities quickly coordinated with local residents to salvage the remains. Due to their large size and state of decomposition, removal proved difficult. The participating forces dug a pit in the forest near the sea to bury the remains, aiming to minimize environmental pollution and disruption to the lives of local residents.
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In folk beliefs, whales—often called "Ông Cá" (Mr. Whale)—are considered sacred creatures, playing a role in protecting and rescuing fishermen in distress at sea. Therefore, when whales die and wash ashore, people often hold solemn funerals as a way of showing respect.
Many local fishermen believe that whale strandings are not uncommon, but each time they occur, they attract significant community attention. Previously, in May 2024, a partial whale carcass weighing over 3 tons also washed ashore in the Dien Chau coastal area.
