Tourist killed in shark attack at Egypt's Marsa Alam Red Sea resort

Environment Ministry closes attack site off Marsa Alam for two days, following incident in which another foreigner was injured

A red flag warning of shark sightings at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh.

Update: Deadly Marsa Alam shark attack casts pall over Egyptian Red Sea resort

One tourist was killed and another injured when they were attacked by a shark at an Egyptian Red Sea resort on Sunday, the country's Environment Ministry said.

The ministry said it received a report that the two foreigners were attacked by a shark – adding that the attack took place in deep water outside the designated swimming area.

They were taken to Port Ghalib Hospital, where one tourist was pronounced dead. The other is currently receiving treatment, said officials.

Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad issued an order to raise the level of preparedness and monitoring at Red Sea protectorates.

She also ordered the formation of an “urgent committee in co-ordination with the Red Sea governorate and relevant authorities to investigate the causes of the incident”.

The attack occurred despite the existence of strict instructions previously issued, banning swimming from piers in the area, the ministry said.

As a precautionary measure, the ministry announced that the attack site and surrounding areas would be closed to swimmers for two days.

Egypt's Red Sea coast, known for its pristine beaches, vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life, has long been a popular destination for tourists seeking sun, sand and diving opportunities.

The resort cities of Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh attract millions of visitors annually, contributing significantly to Egypt's tourism industry. However, shark attacks, though rare, continue to be a safety concern for Red Sea tourists.

In June 2023, a Russian man was killed by a shark near Hurghada, in an attack that received widespread attention because it was filmed and shared online. A few months later, an Egyptian woman was bitten on the arm by a shark.

In 2022, two women were killed in separate shark attacks near Hurghada, while in 2020, a Ukrainian boy lost an arm and an Egyptian tour guide lost a leg in a shark attack. In 2018, a Czech tourist was killed by a shark off a Red Sea beach.

These incidents have resulted in authorities investigating the causes and implementing measures to efforts to prevent future attacks.

Experts have suggested that several factors could be contributing to shark attacks in the Red Sea, including overfishing – which can lead to a decline in shark populations, causing changes in their behaviour and distribution patterns – the depletion of natural prey species and the reduction of habitat quality.

Additionally, the discarding of food and organic matter from boats can attract sharks to areas frequented by swimmers and divers, potentially triggering attacks.