Bookend airbursts are common occurrences in mass whale strandings

2013, February 20. South Atlantic. Airburst. Coordinates: (23S, 38.8W). Energy: 100,000 kg/TNT.  This was 450km east of the stranding in Brazil.

2013, September 22. Brazil, Upanema beach, Areia Branca, Rio Grande do Norte State (RN; 04°55'34,1"; 37°06'50.1"). A mass stranding of 30 False killer whales. 24 were alive when located and refloated, but later another two died, bringing the total to 8 dead. One of these was debated as being related to the pod.

2013, October 12. South Atlantic. Major Airburst. Coordinates: (19.1S, 25W). Energy: 3,500,000 kg/TNT. This airburst was 20 days after Brazil whale stranding.  

Further cetacean strandings

Added whale strandings, with others catalogued at a later date.

2025, March 22. Philippines, Babuyan Islands, Calayan, Sitio Katanapan, Barangay Dibay. A Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) was found stranded. The whale, a male measuring 5.18 meters, was already in a decomposed state when reported by local residents.

2025, April 2 (Date sometime in last week). Norway, Dverberg on the island of Andoya. Cachalot (sperm whale). The sperm whale washed ashore in the town in a moderate state of decomposition. It was a male animal about 15.7 meters long.

First ever recorded Fin whale stranding in Taiwan

2025, March 3. Taiwan, Guishan Island's northern coast. A Fin whale calf was found dead on a rocky shoreline. The 10.5-meter-long whale is the first recorded case of a complete fin whale beaching in the country. The stranding site was not accessed by authorities until March 27. 

Photo courtesy of Chang Hong-jie

Vietnam strandings within days of each other

2025, April 1. Vietnam, East Vietnam Sea, Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh Province, Hai Thanh Ward, along Nhat Le Beach. Pygmy sperm whale. The whale measured approximately 1.1 meters in length and weighed about 15 kilograms.

2025, April 2. Vietnam, East Vietnam Sea, Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh Provincee, Bao Ninh Commun. stranding within two days. Pygmy sperm whale. 

The whales were both given traditional burial rites. Officials stated that the strandings were highly unusual and may have come from the same pod, and some disturbance at sea had occurred.

 Photo: Quoc Nam

Cetacean strandings events from March 30

There are many others worldwide that will be catalogued at a future date. The events in the USA, Scotland, Ireland and Denmark are all linked to meteor activity so far.

2025, March 30. USA, California, San Diego near La Jolla Shores. Dead 30ft long juvenile whale.

2025, March 30. Scotland, Argyll. Dead humpback washed ashore in a moderate state of decomposition.

2025, March 30. Scotland, Fife. The stranded dolphin was refloated.

2025, March 30. Ireland, Carn, Belmullet on the Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo. Live stranding of two pelagic common dolphins. Both the adult and juvenile were refloated in an alternate location.

2025, March 31. USA, Delaware, Indian River Bay, on the north side of the Indian River Inlet Bridge. A 35-feet long humpback that was moderately decomposed.

2025, April 1. USA, Brigantine, New Jersey. Dead dolphin.

2025, April 2. Philippines, San Miguel Bay, Ponong, Magarao. A dead whale shark (male, approx. 5 meters in length) washed ashore in Brgy.

2025, April 2. Denmark, Jutland region of Djursland, Løgten Bugt. A seven meter long juvenile dead humpback 25 kilometers from Denmark’s second-largest city. Fireballs occurred on March 8, 18 and 20.

2025, April 2. USA, California, Santa Barbara. Dead dolphin.

2025, April 2. Thailand, Phuket, Koh Siray, east of Phuket Town. Death of a small dolphin found floating.

Denmark whale stranding

2025 April 2. Denmark, Jutland region of Djursland, Løgten Bugt. A seven-meter-long juvenile dead humpback was found 25 kilometers from Denmark’s second-largest city.

Fireballs occurred on March 8, 18 and 20.

Image: Mikkel Berg Pedersen/Ritzau Scanpix