Jakarta –
The phenomenon of the sea being red like blood in Iran has sparked fear and speculation on social media. The change in sea water color was recorded in a number of viral videos, showing heavy rain suddenly pouring red material into coastal waters.
This incident occurred on Hormuz Island, precisely in the Red Beach area which is known to have unique geological characteristics. The sudden rainfall caused red soil and sediment to flow into the sea, making the water along the coastline look like a ‘sea of blood’.
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Some netizens link this phenomenon to the ‘end times’ prophecy in the Book of Revelation, which tells of angels turning seas and rivers into blood as a form of divine judgment. However, scientists emphasize that this incident can be fully explained scientifically and is not a supernatural sign.
Geologically, Hormuz Island is composed of material with a very high iron oxide content, which gives its sand and coastal cliffs a bright red color. When heavy rains occur, this layer of red soil is carried by water towards the sea and mixes with coastal waters, creating a striking contrast to the blue of the Persian Gulf.
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Photo: X social media
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This phenomenon also attracted the attention of scientists from NASA Earth Observatory, who explained that Hormuz Island is a salt dome, namely a geological structure shaped like a teardrop formed from rock salt, gypsum and other evaporites that were pushed up from the lower layers of the earth.
“Rock salt or halite is weak and buoyant, so it loses its brittle properties and flows more like a liquid when under high pressure,” he said as quoted by the Mirror.
The island’s red soil, locally known as gelak, also has economic value. This material is exported on a limited basis and is used as pigment, cosmetics and traditional products.
 Photo: X social media |
For your information, Hormuz Island is located in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic route connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, about 1,000 kilometers south of Tehran. This region receives relatively little rain, with rainfall usually occurring in winter to early spring.
Outside the Hormuz area, heavy rain also triggered flooding in several areas of Hormozgan Province, forcing authorities to close several main roads. However, in other parts of Iran, the rain was welcomed positively after the country experienced a long drought.
Iran recorded a rainfall deficit of up to 89% below the annual average. This condition previously prompted President Masoud Pezeshkian to warn of the potential for a serious water crisis, even mentioning the possibility of relocating the capital if significant rain does not fall by the end of the year.
(rns/afr)
