THE tranquil waters of Egypt’s Red Sea turned tragic Sunday when a shark attack claimed the life of a 48-year-old Italian tourist and left another seriously injured, according to Egypt’s Ministry of Environment.
The incident occurred in the azure waters off Marsa Alam, a coastal paradise renowned for its vibrant coral reefs and marine biodiversity. The victim, a Rome resident, was swimming with a 69-year-old companion in deep waters beyond the designated swimming zones near the resort’s jetties when the attack occurred, ministry officials confirmed.
“The safety of our visitors is paramount,” stated Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment. “We’ve immediately implemented a 48-hour closure of the affected area while our marine biology team conducts a thorough investigation.”
Local dive master Mohammed El-Sayed, who assisted in the rescue operation, described the scene: “The water was crystal clear that morning. Perfect visibility – until chaos erupted. Our emergency response team reached them within minutes, but for one victim, it was already too late.”
This tragic incident adds to a concerning pattern of shark encounters in Egypt’s Red Sea waters. Marine experts point to multiple factors potentially contributing to changing shark behavior, including unregulated coastal development, overfishing, and mass tourism practices that may be disrupting natural marine ecosystems.
The attack comes amid a challenging period for Marsa Alam’s tourism sector. Just last month, the region witnessed another tragedy when a dive boat capsized during rough weather, resulting in four fatalities and seven missing persons.
Despite these incidents, the Red Sea remains a crucial lifeline for Egypt’s tourism industry, which provides essential employment and foreign currency for the nation of 107 million as it grapples with unprecedented economic challenges.
Port Ghalib Hospital, where both victims were transported, has not released additional details about the survivors’ condition, citing privacy concerns.
