A massive deep sea oarfish, nicknamed the "doomsday fish", has washed up injured and disoriented off the coast of Mexico, reviving chilling fears of a looming megaquake.

The bizarre beast, nearly two metres (6.5 feet) long, was spotted alive in the waters off Balandra beach, near the city of La Paz in Baja California Sur.

Locals filmed the serpent-like creature with its crimson ribbon-like dorsal fin flapping as it floundered in the shallows, apparently injured.

The sighting was documented by a beachgoer who shared a video on TikTok on 19th May showing the seemingly injured fish swimming on the surface of the water.

In the recording, the author talks with the animal, expressing amazement and admiration, saying: “Hey, guys! An oarish here... let's film it... it's an oarfish here in Balandra. Look how beautiful, how pretty."

The man avoided any physical contact with the fish, saying goodbye with words of gratitude: "It's here with me. I'm nervous... hello, beautiful. Look how big it is. I don't know your destiny, but go deep-"

It is the latest in a string of sightings that these comes with the belief that a monstrous earthquake is about to strike.

The oarfish, which normally lives at depths of 200 to 1,000 metres (656 to 3,280 feet), is rarely seen near the surface and is often associated with seismic activity in traditional folklore.

Japanese legend calls it the "Ryugo No Tsukai" or "Messenger from the Sea God’s Palace", while others believe it flees the depths when disturbed by tectonic shifts.

Despite the superstition, scientists remain skeptical.

A 2019 study by the Geophysical Institute in Ecuador found no consistent link between oarfish appearances and seismic events, concluding only one case may have coincided.

Nevertheless, each rare encounter continues to stir anxiety in quake-prone regions.

In the latest footage, the injured fish appears confused and out of place, its strange movements alarming locals who know the stories passed down for generations.

(MJ Leidig/newsX)