A beach in Russia turned into a 'graveyard of sea creatures.'

Russian Pacific coast in the Kamchatka region was wiped out during an unexplained mass death of marine animals on the seabed.

Russian Pacific coast in the Kamchatka region was wiped out during an unexplained mass death of marine animals on the seabed. The pictures and the videos circulated on social media platforms had featured thousands of dead sea creatures on a beach in Kamchatka, a peninsula across the ocean from Alaska.

The popular surfing destination was covered in dead octopuses, crabs, sea urchins, and other sea animals on October 4, 2020. The preliminary findings had indicated the reason for the death as due to the toxins caused by microalgae rather than human-made pollution. At the same time, another theory had even stated that the animals could have died because of seismic activity, which is not uncommon in what is one of the world's most volcanic regions.

Data released by Russian environmental officials pointed out the excess amounts of phosphate ion, iron, and phenol in the areas where the poisoned animals were found. The source of the pollution remains undetermined. Scientists from a local nature reserve who examined the bay's waters said 95% of sea life to the depth of 10 to 15 meters was dead.

In early September, the water had changed the color to a greyish-yellow, thick milky foam on the surface, and a strong foul smell filled the air. A few days later, octopuses, seals, and other sea creatures began to wash up on the beach. Locals on the Pacific's volcanic peninsula had also raised the alarm as surfers experienced stinging eyes, sore throats, vomiting, and fever after going into the water.

However, the investigation for determining the cause of sea animals' mass death is still in process. The incident is either more likely to be a natural or a human-made disaster.