A shark attack off Egypt’s Red Sea coast claimed the life of an Italian tourist and left another injured, officials confirmed on Sunday.
According to Egypt’s environment ministry, the incident occurred in deep waters near Marsa Alam. Both victims were Italian nationals, identified as a 48-year-old man from Rome who tragically lost his life and a 69-year-old man who sustained injuries. They were transported to a hospital in Port Ghalib, approximately 50 kilometres north of Marsa Alam.
“Two foreigners were attacked by a shark in the northern Marsa Alam area, which led to the injury of one and the death of the other,” Egypt’s environment ministry said.
In response, authorities have temporarily closed the area to swimmers for two days. The environment ministry emphasized that the attack took place outside the designated swimming area.
The Red Sea, known for its vibrant marine life, is a significant draw for divers and a critical source of income for Egypt. Shark attacks, though rare, are a near-yearly occurrence in the region.
Marine experts attribute the increased frequency to factors such as unregulated construction, over-fishing, and unsustainable tourism practices, which disrupt the ecosystem and alter shark behavior.
Shark attack deaths dramatically rising, recent data show
In 2023, there were more unprovoked shark attacks globally, leading to more deaths compared to the year before.
Based on the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) at the University of Florida, there were 69 unprovoked shark bites in 2023. This number is higher than the average of 63 attacks over the past five years but still follows the overall trend.
Last year, ten unprovoked attacks turned deadly, which is twice as many as the previous year. Most of these tragic incidents happened in Australia, making up 40 percent of all fatalities, even though Australia only had 22 percent of the total attacks.
In addition to Australia, there were confirmed deaths from shark attacks in the United States (2), the Bahamas, Egypt, Mexico, and New Caledonia.
Non-fatal bites also occurred in Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, New Zealand, the Seychelles, Turks and Caicos, Ecuador on the Galápagos Islands, and South Africa, according to ISAF.
Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the Florida Museum of Natural History, mentioned that the number of bites falls within the usual range, but the increase in fatalities is concerning.
In the United States, there were 36 unprovoked attacks, making up 52 percent of all incidents globally. Moreover, two of these attacks, one in California and another in Hawaii, resulted in fatalities. Florida continued to have the highest number of shark bites among all states, with sixteen reported attacks.
Related: The Deadliest Decade for Shark Attacks in Greece
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