- A video displaying beaches littered with deceased sea creatures that ended up on the shoreline has sparked discussions online.
- It has also been reported that sea creatures were still floating in the shallows, and this may be linked to a sulfur eruption
- The online community responded to the video, and News explored what a sulfur eruption entails.
Recently, an unsettling environmental event occurred along sections of the coast north of Swakopmund, with large numbers of dead marine animals being discovered on the shoreline.
Marine life stranded along the shoreline
The scene, captured in a now-viral video shared by a News and media website on Facebook under the handle Erongo on the 14th of April 2025, shows fish and other marine species scattered across the sand, with some still floating in the shallows.
The video shared on social platforms depicts the coastline littered with deceased sea creatures. Several of these remain afloat in the shallow waters, whereas some can be seen lying inertly on the beach. This recording has ignited considerable worry within the digital sphere. Numerous individuals have voiced their distress via social networks regarding the mysterious fatalities.
According to Erongo, media reports suggest that the mass deaths could be linked to a possible sulfur eruption beneath the ocean surface. These natural events release gases that deplete oxygen levels in the water, potentially suffocating marine life.
In the Facebook post from Erongo, the media disclosed the following:
It’s thought this large-scale mortality might be connected to either the current sulfur eruption or the abrupt surge of freshwater, silt, and debris entering the Atlantic via the Swakop River breach on April 1st.
As per reports, due to this potential reason, hundreds—or possibly thousands—of octopuses along with various other marine animals have been found stranded on the shores.
It is believed that these creatures might have perished from lack of oxygen or faced severe distress as the influx of freshwater combined with sediment lowered the oxygen levels in the coastal waters. Despite the tragedy, this incident is considered a natural biological response to an extraordinary flooding occurrence.
Check out the footage of the motionless marine animals beneath the waves:
Individuals respond to the footage of marine life.
People who use social media flocked to the comment area to express their views on the footage of marine life coming onto the shore.
Manfred Rupert Anderson said:
The Orange River continuously empties into the sea. There are no such problems here. It’s a different issue altogether. Whether due to contamination or pollution, it isn’t freshwater anymore.
Andrew Faber shared:
I personally don't believe it's due to the freshwater itself; rather, it might be because of what contaminated the 'fresh' water as it flowed into the sea. Rivers often serve as cost-free disposal systems for businesses and industrial facilities.
Liz Buchholz wrote:
I am not persuaded that this is due to freshwater and seawater mingling. Estuaries experience the combination of freshwater and saltwater every day without causing harm to aquatic life.
Princess Cina Tulina Elifas mentioned additional points as follows:
I knew this would occur; river water isn’t suitable for marine life.
Envra Dealberio replied:
Harmful substances in the ocean!
Ruth Shikomba commented:
The outcome of the ocean meeting the river.
Sheila Schutte stated:
If no wildlife is pecking or gnawing at this dismal fare, it might not be safe to eat?... as indicated by numerous comments questioning whether these washed-up items can be consumed safely.
What a sulphur eruption
Based on information from USGS.Gov, a sulfur eruption mainly entails the discharge of sulfur dioxide gas (SO2) along with molten sulfur, typically linked to volcanic processes. The magma holds various dissolved gases, among them substantial quantities of sulfur-based substances. When this magma ascends and experiences reduced pressure, SO2 gets released, possibly resulting in sulfuric acid aerosols within the air, impacting both climatic conditions and leading to localized risks such as vog—volcanic smog.
3 Reports of Wildlife Encounters
- A gentleman experienced quite a fright in a video when he encountered a lion, believing himself to be protected by a car door.
- A TikTok clip captures lions approaching tourists inside a vehicle, causing fear even as one of the big cats jumped onto their ride.
- One hippo was out and about in Cape Town after leaving a nature reserve, and people were in awe.