An incident of about 30 dolphins washed up on the coast of Japan has raised concerns about a precursor to an earthquake.
On the 10th, Shukan Gendai, a Japanese current affairs magazine, and NHK Broadcasting reported that 32 dolphins were found on the coast near Ichinomiyacho, Chiba Prefecture, Japan on the 3rd. These dolphins washed up about 500m along the coast, and 15 of them died. The surviving dolphins were rescued by people and returned to the sea.
Some point out that the large-scale stranding of dolphins is a precursor to a major earthquake. In fact, even 7 days before the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred on March 4, 2011, 54 dolphins died en masse.
According to the media, science journalist Nobumitsu Omiya said, “Dolphins, which measure distance and direction with their own sounds, are animals that are sensitive to electromagnetic waves.” , asserted that “the dolphin, disoriented by the electric current from the bedrock, was believed to have run aground while approaching too close to the shore.”
Hideki Shimamura, a special professor at Musashinogakuin University, said, “The area where the dolphins ran aground is an area where earthquakes are frequent due to the double meshing of the Philippine plate in the south and the Pacific plate in the east.” No,” he predicted.
However, there is also a view that it is too early to predict an earthquake based on the fact that the dolphin was stranded. Yoshiaki Orihara, representative of the Japan Disaster Prediction Information Research Institute, told the Mainichi Shimbun, “It cannot be said that the dolphin stranding and the earthquake are completely unrelated, but it is difficult to directly link them.” concentrated between February and May. It is highly likely to be the effect of ocean currents,” he explained.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.