Dead humpback whale off Denmark's Anholt island faces explosion risk, draws 600,000 live viewers

A 12‑metre, roughly 12‑tonne dead humpback whale, known as “Timmy” (also called “Hope”), has been lying bloated on a sandbank near the Danish island of Anholt since late May. The whale’s blubber acts as a bioreactor, producing methane, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, causing internal pressure to rise rapidly. Experts warn that the carcass could burst with a large explosion during the Pentecost weekend, especially as warm weather accelerates gas buildup.

Three attempts to tow the carcass into deeper water failed after high water forced a halt, and authorities have declared the site unsafe for visitors. Danish environmental officials have barred beachgoers, while a live‑stream hosted by News5 on YouTube, Twitch and TikTok has attracted up to 612,000 viewers watching for the possible blast.

Similar incidents have occurred before, such as a 2004 explosion of a 50‑tonne fin whale on a Taiwanese truck and a 2013 blow‑out on the Faroe Islands. Despite the danger, no immediate public safety threat has materialised, but an explosion could release foul odours and render the tourist area around Anholt temporarily uninhabitable.