Rotting fish stink up I-40 in the wake of Hurricane Florence

Massive flooding caused by Hurricane Florence left a North Carolina interstate littered with thousands of dead fish.

Hurricane Florence claimed 44 lives and brought historic amounts of rain to North Carolina. The resulting floodwaters left I-40 in Pender County completely submerged.

The floodwaters finally receded, but as they did, they left thousands of fish behind on the interstate. The Penderlea Fire Department writes, “Hurricane Florence caused massive flooding in our area and allowed the fish to travel far from their natural habitat, stranding them on the interstate when waters receded.”

The Penderlea Fire Department used hoses to wash the dead fish off of the interstate.

Locals have started to complain about a horrible smell as the thousands of fish started to decay along I-40, according to the Charlotte Observer.