Santiago de Chile, December 2 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Over 300 whale carcasses have been found washed ashore on Chile's southern coast, between the Gulf of Penas and Puerto Natales.

Scientists discovered 337 beached Sei whales in a remote inlet of Patagonia in June 2015 but only released photos and information of the findings Tuesday.

Vreni Haussermann of the Huinay Scientific Center was one of the scientists who made the discoveries in what is thought to be one of the largest whale stranding on record.  "It was an apocalyptic sight. I'd never seen anything like it," Haussermann said.  "I think they were swept away by the currents. In my 15 years in the area I have never seen anything like this," added Haussermann. 

After 20 dead Sei whales were found dotted around the area in April, scientists decided to launch an expedition in the secluded region that lies some 2,000 kilometers off Santiago, Chile's capital.  Only when researchers flew over the fjords did they realize the scale of the die-off.

So far, scientists have recorded 337 dead whales from satellite and aerial photography yet they fear more bodies and skeletons remain hidden from view.

"There are still a lot of areas we haven't managed to reach, so it's likely there are more dead whales," Ms Haussermann said.

Sei whales are internationally protected after being hunted nearly to extinction during the middle of the 20th century.  Initial tests on the mammals have proved inconclusive although the whales did not bear any wounds, suggesting they may have died of a virus or a harmful algal bloom known as "red tide."

The news comes amid the COP21 climate change conference where speakers have warned of the damage rising temperature could have on marine life.

Scientists have warned of the effects that global warming could have on whale populations by killing off their food supply and thus changing their migratory routes.