In the midst of a heavy rainstorm a few days ago, the city of Yasuj in Iran witnessed an unusual event when fish started descending from the sky.
The surreal spectacle, captured in a video circulating online, shows fish plummeting from above and landing with a splash on the tarmac between parked cars.
The footage also shows a man capturing the moment, catching one of the falling fish and presenting it to the camera.
🇮🇷 A rain of fish fell over the Iranian Yasuj.
The main version of what happened: a tornado swept over a reservoir, throwing fish several kilometers inland. pic.twitter.com/BINhCSvdCq
— dana (@dana916) May 3, 2024
While the concept of fish raining from the sky may seem fantastic, scientists are shedding light on the origins of the phenomenon. This natural spectacle, while not unprecedented, is attributed to the forces of nature rather than supernatural intervention.
Researchers have delved into the mechanisms behind such events and revealed that fish rains usually occur in conjunction with waterspouts or tornadoes.
As these powerful weather phenomena pass over bodies of water, they create a vortex that can swallow marine life, along with lighter objects such as frogs, turtles and even crabs.
Powered by the force of the tornado, these creatures are lifted into the air, where they remain suspended until the wind subsides. Then, as the wind speed decreases, the inhabitants are released into the air and descend back to earth with the subsequent rainwater.
Although the spectacle of fish raining from the sky may defy conventional expectations, the scientific explanation provides a rational understanding of this unusual event.
