Giant deep-sea fish washing up on Japan’s shores has sparked fears of an impending earthquake or tsunami.

Three oarfish have been seen over the past week off the north coast of Japan, bringing the total discovered this season to seven.

The metres long eel-like fish are considered harbingers of doom in Japanese mythology and are known in the country as ryugu no tsukai – or messenger from the sea god’s palace.

Living at depths of 1km (0.62 miles), they are believed to come to the surface ahead of an earthquake or tsunami.

At least a dozen fish were…