Residents collect washed up oysters on beaches after typhoon batters Chinese coastal cities

After a massive typhoon recently swept through parts of eastern and southern provinces of China, a large number of oysters appeared on the beaches of coastal cities, as local residents flocked to the shores with buckets, sacks, and various tools to collect the crustaceans, the China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Monday.

According to a video clip posted by a netizen from Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province, a beach in Shenzhen was covered in oysters, with city residents rushing to the shores, some carrying buckets of oysters directly to their homes. Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian Province, also saw oysters piled up on the beach, according to CCTV.

Industry insiders speculated that the oysters may have come from surrounding areas where artificially farmed oysters are raised, but this is just an assumption, and the specific origin of the oysters is still under investigation, CCTV reported.

However, the action of collecting oysters after the typhoon still poses hidden risks, according to the report. Under the influence of the peripheral circulation of the typhoon, strong winds and long waves will be generated in the coastal areas, and there is a danger of being swept away by the waves if people go to the beach and fail to take due care.

The beach may also have sharp and dangerous objects including glass shards and nails after low tide, which can easily lead to foot or hand injuries. Dangerous marine organisms, including jellyfish and sea urchins, whose venom can cause serious and even life-threatening injuries, can be found in the near-shore seawater.

Because the freshness of the seafood cannot be guaranteed, some of the oysters may have been soaked in seawater for a long time. In addition, these oysters may also carry a large number of pollutants and harmful substances.