"Ominous Oarfish Found on Canary Islands Coast Sparks Natural Disaster Fears"

Okay, I need to shorten the user’s content to about 600 words and add some pictures. Let me start by reading through the original article to understand the key points.

The main story is about a rare oarfish washing up on a beach in the Canary Islands, with mentions of similar sightings in Mexico. The oarfish is considered a bad omen in Japanese mythology, often linked to natural disasters. There are quotes from social media reactions and some details about the fish’s characteristics.

First, I need to condense each paragraph. The original has around 700+ words, so trimming it down. Remove redundancies like repeated mentions of the oarfish being a bad omen. Combine the sections about the Canary Islands and Mexico sightings since they’re similar. Maybe summarize the social media comments instead of listing each one.

Check the word count after each edit. Ensure the essential information is kept: what the oarfish is, the cultural significance, the two recent sightings, and public reaction.

Including pictures as per the original. The user mentioned adding images, so I should note where they should be placed, probably after the relevant paragraphs. Use the existing image captions and sources from the original.

Also, check for any technical terms that might need simplification. Make sure the flow is logical: introduction of the event, explanation of the oarfish’s significance, recent examples, social media reactions, and expert opinions if any. The original mentions that it’s hard to study them; that’s a key point to keep.

Formatting considerations: the user might want headings for sections, but since it’s a rewrite into a concise article, maybe use bold headings for clarity. Ensure the byline and timestamps are appropriately shortened if needed, but in this case, the user provided the article content, so focus on the body.

Double-check that all key facts are present: dates, locations, descriptions of the fish, cultural context, and the viral social media aspect. Trim any less important details, like the specifics of CSS or sitecatalyst codes in the original HTML, which aren’t part of the article content.

Now, structuring the shortened version: start with the Canary Islands incident, then explain the oarfish’s mythology, mention the Mexico sighting, include social media reactions, and conclude with any expert statements or lack thereof. Maybe add a note about scientists’ views on the myth versus the difficulty of studying them.

After writing, check the word count to ensure it’s around 600 words. Use three of the existing images, placing them after the introductory paragraph, the social media section, and the Mexico sighting part. Use the provided captions.

Also, verify that all links and unnecessary HTML elements from the original are removed, keeping only the core article text and image references. Make sure the final answer is in plain text but indicates where images should go with descriptions, as per the user’s example response.

Final check: clarity, grammar, conciseness, adherence to the 600-word target, inclusion of images with captions. Ensure the flow is smooth and all main points from the original are covered succinctly.
Terrifying "Doomsday" Fish Sparks Disaster Fears After Washing Ashore in Canary Islands
By Melody Fletcher for MailOnline | Updated: 12:20 GMT, 18 February 2025

[Image: A rare oarfish washed ashore on Playa Quemada, Canary Islands. Credit: Daily Mail]
A rare oarfish, believed in folklore to foreshadow disasters, has been found on a Canary Islands beach, igniting global anxiety. The 10 February discovery at Playa Quemada went viral after a video of the silvery, orange-finned creature amassed over 9 million Instagram views. Known as the "Messenger of the Sea God" in Japanese mythology, oarfish appearances are often linked to impending earthquakes, tsunamis, or cyclones.

Myth Meets Modern Fear

Deep-sea dwellers, oarfish are rarely seen near shorelines, living at depths of 650-3,000 feet. Their elusive nature fuels myths, particularly in Japan, where legends claim they surface to warn of catastrophe. Social media erupted with concern, with comments like, “Put