Fishermen Stumble Upon Inflated Whale Carcass at Risk of Explosion

Off the coast of Andøya Island within the Arctic Circle, Norwegian fishermen encountered an unusually large, balloon-like object that turned out to be a dead humpback whale on the brink of exploding. The whale, estimated to be around 15 meters in length and weighing approximately 40 tons, had accumulated gases within its decomposing body, which is a natural occurrence that can lead to such marine mammals bursting.

Fisherman Dag Rydland, with 27 years of experience, initially spotted the carcass and cautiously kept his vessel at least 100 meters away to avoid the potential blast and resulting debris. The sight was also documented by whale researcher Tiu Similä, who, alongside her team, observed the whale while maintaining a safe distance. The whale's belly was noted to be protruding out of the water, indicating the level of gas buildup inside the carcass.

This event highlights a natural yet hazardous phenomenon associated with the decomposition of whale carcasses, where internal gases like methane can cause them to inflate and potentially explode. Both the fishermen and researchers underscored the need for caution around such occurrences, due to the risks posed by the force of an explosion and the dispersal of decaying whale parts.