Fifty whales die in British Virgin Islands

Their carcasses were found on the east end of Anegada island and officials warned people not to move or touch them.

"Unfortunately, survival rates are very low for beached whales and the BVI does not have the captive facilities to nurse giant injured mammals," Argel Horton, a marine biologist with the ministry, said.

Officials said they are collecting tissue samples from as many dead whales as possible to determine what caused the mass stranding.

Short-finned pilot whales live in groups of 25 to 50 and seek warmer tropical and temperate waters. 

Females live up to 60 years and males up to 45 years, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The agency said that the causes of strandings often remain unknown although scientists have sometimes blamed "disease, harmful algal blooms, vessel strikes, fishing gear entanglements, pollution exposure and underwater noise".