Newfoundland residents concerned over possible spontaneous combustion of whale carcasses

Citizens of Newfoundland are facing a huge dilemma following the carcasses of three 80-foot-long whales washing up on west end of the Canadian island.

Not only are the carcasses omitting a powerful smell, but residents are faced with the possibility of them exploding due to spontaneous combustion as methane gas inside continues to expand.

Department of Fisheries and Oceans has said their local governments will need to find a way to dispose of the carcasses, but as CTV News reports, they don’t have the resources to do so.

Trout River’s town manager, Emily Butler, told NTV, "With the warm temperatures coming on we're really concerned about the smell from this. We are also concerned with the health aspect of this animal being on the beach line."

These three whales are said to be among nine that have washed up on shore in the region recently. The cause of the increase of deaths is due to denser ice packs that are killing the whales during feeding.