Egypt’s Ministry of Environment Investigating Marsa Alam Shark Attack

Article updated 6 August 2018, originally published on 4 August 2018.

Egypt’s Ministry of Environment announced on Sunday that it is investigating a shark attack that killed a 41-year-old tourist from the Czech Republic on Friday 3 August.

The Ministry said that while beaches will not be closed during the investigation, the marina which extends into the coral reef would be shut down indefinitely.

According to the Ministry, shark attacks in Egypt are rare and it will take the appropriate action needed to ensure an attack does not occur again.

The Czech man was holidaying in the popular Red Sea resort town with his wife and children through a travel agency identified as Exim Tours.

Shark attacks rare in Egypt

A spokesperson for Exim Tours said that the attack was unusual and that the deceased’s family hopes to return to the Czech Republic as soon as possible. Many locals also said the attack was unusual, with local diving groups stressing that this should not harm tourism.

Shark attacks in 2015, 2010, 2009, and 2004 have killed a total of three people and injured five others.

Overall, shark attacks are rare in Egypt compared to other countries, but have often become politicized.

In 2010, a series of attacks by sharks was blamed by some on Israel. Israel was accused of attempting to destabilize Egypt’s tourism industry by luring sharks to attack tourists. However, these claims were later refuted by the Egyptian government.

Egypt’s Red Sea resort towns are popular with tourists from around the world, and particularly from eastern European countries such as the Czech Republic.