Fatal shark attack in Red Sea claims tourist’s life and injures another

A shark attack in the Red Sea near the Egyptian resort town of Marsa Alam has left one tourist dead and another injured, Egyptian officials confirmed on Sunday.

The incident occurred in deep waters outside the designated swimming area, according to Egypt’s environment ministry. Marsa Alam is a renowned destination for scuba diving enthusiasts.

Reports from AFP indicate that both victims were Italian citizens. The deceased was a 48-year-old man from Rome, who had been scuba diving at the time. The injured man, aged 69, survived the attack.

According to the Shark Research Institute, this marks the fourth fatal shark attack in the Red Sea over the past decade. The most recent fatality occurred in the summer of 2023, when a 24-year-old Russian man was killed by a tiger shark near Hurghada.

While over 40 species of sharks inhabit the Red Sea, shark encounters remain rare despite the region’s increasing popularity among divers.

In response to this latest incident, authorities have announced the closure of the swimming area in Marsa Alam. An investigation into the attack is currently underway.