Huge monster causes panic and army response with locals on Seram Island first thinking it was a stranded boat

A MYSTERIOUS sea creature the size of a cargo container washed up on a remote beach in Indonesia — baffling locals and sparking an army response.

The 50ft-long beast, which stunned onlookers first thought it was a stranded boat, had died in unknown circumstances before it was found on Tuesday.

Shocked locals discovered the dead beast washed up on an Indonesian beachCredit: Pattimura Military Command

Witnesses first thought the giant carcass was a stranded ship

Mystery surrounds how the sea creature died

Government troops were called in to help clear the enormous remains after local Asrul Tuanakota, 37, found it at Hulung Beach on Seram Island.

Experts and residents were initially baffled by the giant mass, which was first spotted at night.

But it was later reported to be the remains of a giant squid that had died at least three days earlier, Jakarta Globe said.

However, no one yet knows if the animal died of natural causes — or was 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed by an even bigger beast.

The 50ft-long creature is the size of a cargo containerCredit: Pattimura Military Command

Giant squids are among the world’s largest organisms

Experts say the maximum size of a giant squid is thought to be only 43ft for females and 33ft for males.

They are among the largest living organisms in the world — but are still hunted by predatory sperm whales.

It is not the first giant creature to shock the region in recent months.

In February, scientists and locals in the Phillipines were baffled by a 65ft-long “sea blob” that appeared on a beach.

After speculation it was an alien creature, the mass was later identified as a whale carcass.

Source: thesun.co.uk