Kamchatka Tragedy

Russian scientists are researching the cause of a massive die-off of marine life off the coast of Kamchatka in October.

Thousands of starfish, sea urchins and other marine life, including seals and seabirds, were found dead along more than 400 kilometers of coastline at Avacha Bay. Meanwhile, surfers complained of eye irritation and more serious problems, including loss of vision, as well as skin rashes and intestinal maladies.

Social media was rife with all sorts of theories and offered contradictory explanations involving spills of oil, toxic military waste, and even rocket fuel. Various government agencies, NGOs, and media outlets dispatched specialists to the region to gather samples and determine what happened.