Buzz
While it might shock many, the occurrence of fish descending from the sky is frequent enough to be extensively recorded in meteorological studies. However, we are only aware of those incidents that occur over inhabited areas.
Contrary to the apocalyptic imagery often portrayed in religious texts and blockbuster films, a fish fall is a completely natural phenomenon, devoid of any supernatural elements.
In his book, Freaks of the Storm, Dr. Randy Cerveny highlights that modern accounts “of waterspouts lifting fish from bodies of water and depositing them elsewhere date back to 1889. Even now, the peculiar selectivity of these events remains a scientific mystery.”
The mechanics of fish falls are straightforward: fish and water are lifted into the air, and eventually, the fish descend. While it appears simple, the exact process behind every fish fall remains unclear, leaving much to scientific speculation.
So, let’s dive into the phenomenon of being swept into the sky involuntarily and landing on a compilation of 10 recent fish falls.
10. Lajamanu, Australia
Nestled on the edge of the Tanami Desert, 550 kilometers (340 mi) from the nearest sizable town of Katherine, lies the small community of Lajamanu in the Northern Territory. It’s not exactly a hotspot for fishing enthusiasts.
Lajamanu has experienced fish falling from the sky on at least three occasions in recent history—1974, 2004, and 2010. The fish that descended were small and still alive, resilient creatures that likely endured hours in the air. The nearest major water sources, Lake Argyle and Lake Elliot, are both quite distant. Even the closest river is more than 480 kilometers (300 mi) away.
The residents were delighted by the unexpected shower of spangled perch. They engaged in “fishing” by simply collecting the perch from the local football field.
9. Tampico, Mexico
The weather station had predicted a “light rain” for the Mexican town of Tampico. However, they failed to specify that it would include a sprinkle of small fish.
On September 26, 2017, a seemingly ordinary rain shower in Tampico brought along a scattering of small fish. While it wasn’t a massive downpour of fish, and no one rushed out with buckets to gather dinner, there is at least one video documenting the fish scattered on the pavement.
Pedro Granados, the director of civil protection in Tamaulipas state, views this unusual weather event as more than just a fish fall but not quite an apocalyptic sign. “I’m not sure if it’s climate change,” he remarked, “but we’ve witnessed tornadoes, storms, heavy rains, floods, fish falling from the sky, eclipses, earthquakes, and various other natural phenomena that were once rare but are now becoming more frequent.”
It appears that Tampico is experiencing far more unusual events than what he, as a professional, finds comfortable.
8. Komanapalli and Singuripeta, India
The small rural villages of Komanapalli and Singuripeta in the Srikakulam district of India were met with an unexpected delight when Cyclone Roanu brought them not the anticipated destruction but a shower of small fish that soon covered their fields.
In May 2016, the community was thrilled when fresh Indian major carp rained down on their agricultural land. With the fisheries department’s approval, locals swiftly gathered the fish, which fell for about half an hour, and took them home to prepare meals. It was the convenience of fishing without the effort, a win-win for everyone except the fish caught in the downpour.
The fish, all alive, were believed to have been lifted by the cyclone from nearby ponds and dropped onto the ground along with the rain.
7. Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
Dire Dawa, a major city in Ethiopia with over half a million residents, faces severe drought and economic challenges.
In January 2016, residents grappling with drought were initially astonished to see large fish falling from the sky during a brief rain. The fish showered parts of the city, and the locals eagerly gathered them, putting the unexpected bounty to good use.
In a rare meteorological phenomenon, fish descended from a cloudless sky accompanied by rain, with no signs of storms or cyclones. A spokesperson from the Ministry of Livestock and Fishery Public Relations described the event as a miraculous act and a blessing from God.
6. Loreto, Philippines
Residents of Agusan del Sur, a landlocked province, witnessed an unusual occurrence in January 2012 when fresh fish fell from the sky, an event far removed from their everyday experiences.
The fish that fell on Loreto were small mudfish, with only 72 surviving the descent. These surviving fish were collected for further examination by local authorities.
Experts theorize that the mudfish were lifted by a waterspout and sustained by 'swimming' within the moist clouds.
5. Knighton, Wales
On August 18, 2004, a writers’ group heading to their meeting was astonished to find that a sudden downpour had scattered numerous minnow-like fish across the center of their town.
A few of the fish were still alive upon landing but quickly perished on the ground, observed by the gathered writers. (This outcome is hardly surprising. A fish out of water will inevitably die, regardless of how intently one stares at it. This does not imply any supernatural ability; the fish’s demise is purely situational.)
The fish likely traveled a minimum of 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the closest coastline to make their dramatic descent onto the writers’ group, adding an unexpected twist to their day.
4. Oroville, California
The fish fall on May 16, 2017, in Oroville, California, was both mysterious and slightly suspicious, leaving many questions unanswered.
The incident occurred at Stanford Avenue Elementary School, where Campus Supervisor Liz Barber-Gabriel discovered fish scattered across the grounds and even on the roof. Strangely, no one witnessed or heard the fish falling from the sky, adding to the mystery.
Initially, teachers feared the possibility of terrorism, but no intruder was found. The idea of a prank seemed unlikely, as no birds could have dropped so many fish, and the fish were intact, uneaten, and whole.
The origin of the fish remained unclear. They couldn’t have come from the nearby hatchery, as no deliveries had been made. Nor could they have been dropped from a plane, as no aircraft had flown over the area.
The mischievous schoolboys who used the dead fish to frighten the girls were initially suspected, but it was later determined they were more of a nuisance than actual culprits. The only plausible explanation left was a fish fall.
3. Yoro, Honduras
In one corner of the world, fish rain is an anticipated annual event. Known as Lluvia de Peces (“Rain of Fish”), this phenomenon has been occurring at least once a year since the 1800s.
Every May or June, the residents of Yoro eagerly await storms that bring fish to their streets. These fish are gathered and provide a much-needed source of food for the community.
The likely cause of this phenomenon is waterspouts, which lift fish from water bodies and transport them through the air before releasing them. However, the residents of Yoro attribute the fish rain to a divine source.
Father Jose Manuel Subirana, a respected Catholic priest, is said to have prayed for food for the local population, and his prayers were answered with a miraculous fish rain. Since 1998, an annual festival and parade have celebrated Father Subirana and his divine intervention.
The species of fish that fall each year may vary, as they could originate from different parts of the ocean.
Another theory suggests that the fish are blind creatures from an underground lake, pushed to the surface by periodic flooding of their subterranean habitat.
Regardless of the explanation, the event provides a bountiful feast for the local community.
2. Fairbanks, Alaska
Small fish raining from the sky can be seen as charming and unusual. Larger fish might offer sustenance for those in need. However, big fish falling from above would be weird and potentially hazardous if they landed on you or your belongings.
Lampreys descending from the sky, on the other hand, are nothing short of terrifying.
In June 2015, the people of Fairbanks, Alaska, experienced a bizarre event as large lampreys—eel-like, toothy suckerfish resembling vagina dentata—rained down from above.
Only four of these dreadful creatures were discovered, with just one surviving the fall. It landed in a store parking lot and was placed in a bucket for safekeeping.
The peculiar aspect of the lampreys was the presence of small, evenly spaced, and uniformly shaped holes on their sides. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game suggested that gulls were likely responsible for dropping them.
1. Nallur, Sri Lanka
A search for 'Jaffna' often leads to 'Jaffna Fish Curry,' which is intriguing given that a fish fall in November 2017 brought the Jaffna region into international headlines.
The curry appears absolutely amazing.
This fish fall occurred during the monsoon season, accompanied by heavy rains and thunderstorms. Locals gathered the fallen fish, appreciating the unexpected bounty.
According to witnesses, fish rains have been an annual occurrence for the past three years. The collected fish are later cooked, possibly into one of those mouthwatering curries.
