About 20 sei whales beached along coast of southern Chile

This April 21, 2015 photo released by Vreni Haussermann shows sei whales beached on the southern coast of Gulf of Penas, Chile. About 20 whales have been found beached along Chile's southern coastline and officials say they are trying to determine what caused them to wind up on the beach. The International Union for Conservation of Natures lists the sei as an endangered species. (Vreni Haussermann, Huinay Scientific Field Station via AP) (The Associated Press)

prev next

This April 21, 2015 photo released by Vreni Haussermann shows sei whales beached on the Gulf of Penas, Chile. About 20 whales have been found beached along Chile's southern coastline and officials say they are trying to determine what caused them to wind up on the beach. The International Union for Conservation of Natures lists the sei as an endangered species. (Vreni Haussermann, Huinay Scientific Field Station via AP) (The Associated Press)

This April 21, 2015 photo released by Vreni Haussermann shows sei whales beached off the Gulf of Tres Montes, which is part of the Gulf of Penas, Chile. Haussermann, director of Chile's Huinay Scientific Field Station, said she saw 30 whales beached along Chile's southern coastline, in the areas of Golfo Tres Montes and Canal del Castillo. Officials say they are trying to determine what caused them to wind up on the beach. The International Union for Conservation of Natures lists the sei as an endangered species. (Vreni Haussermann, Huinay Scientific Field Station via AP) (The Associated Press)

SANTIAGO, Chile – Chilean officials say about 20 whales have been found beached along the country's southern coast.

The National Fisheries Service said Friday that foreign scientists discovered the whales on the Gulf of Penas and reported them to authorities.

It's not unusual to find beached whales along Chile's 2,400-mile (4,200-kilometer) long coast, but the Fisheries Service says it's the first time sei whales have been found beached. The International Union for Conservation of Natures lists the sei as an endangered species. Adults can be longer than 50 feet (15 meters) and weigh 20 tons or more.

Officials say they are trying to determine what caused the whales to wind up on the beach.