Egypt closes Marsa Alam resort after death of tourist in shark attack

CAIRO - 29 December 2024: Egypt declared a state of emergency and banned swimming in Marsa Alam resort after a tourist was killed and another was injured in a shark attack on Sunday, announced the Egyptian Ministry of Environment in a statement.

Some people shared video footage of the incident and claimed that the tourist was Russian. However, the ministry did not reveal the nationality of the victim in the statement. 

The Ministry of Environment added in its statement that Minister Yasmine Fouad is following up on the shark attack incident in the North of Marsa Alam, declaring a state of emergency, closing the area, and banning swimming there. 

The ministry noted that the incident took  place in deep waters outside the swimming area in the North of Marsa Alam and the victims were admitted to Porto Ghalib Hospital.

“The area will be closed and swimming will be prohibited in the area for two days starting tomorrow,” the statement continued.

Fouad ordered an investigation in the incident in coordination with the Red Sea Governorate and the concerned authorities to determine the causes of the incident.

Fouad also stressed that the Ministry of Environment, in cooperation with the Red Sea Governorate, is taking urgent measures to deal with the accident timely.