A tractor-trailer carrying 20 tons of squid overturned on a Narragansett, Rhode Island street Sunday morning, spilling its contents and creating a significant odor. The incident, which occurred around 9:30 a.m., led local authorities to humorously refer to the event as the “Squidpocalypse of ‘26.”
The truck was en route to an out-of-town processing facility when it tipped onto its side while making a turn. The spill covered the intersection in seafood, and as the sun beat down with temperatures exceeding 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the smell intensified. Narragansett Police Capt. Ryan Prest confirmed that neither the driver nor a passenger sustained injuries.
Cleanup operations took nearly the entire day, with the intersection remaining closed until 5:15 p.m. Heavy equipment, including a dump truck, was utilized to remove the slippery cargo from the roadway. The Narragansett Police Department acknowledged the unusual nature of the spill on social media, stating that the town was still recovering from the incident that "put ‘slippery when wet’ to shame."
Local fisherman Richard Stevens described the distinctive and foul odor of squid, particularly when exposed to the sun and heat for an extended period. Authorities have not yet released further details regarding the cause of the truck's overturning.