Two sharks suspected of mauling three Russians and a Ukrainian at an Egyptian Red Sea resort have been caught, the Egyptian Environment Ministry said Thursday.
Sharks attacked tourists Tuesday and then again the day after, maiming three Russians and a Ukrainian tourist, according to the Russian Embassy. Earlier reports said all four were Russians.
In one of the attacks, an elderly woman lost her hand and another woman lost a leg. One of the victims remained hospitalized in critical condition, RIA-Novosti reported. Earlier reports said all four victims were hospitalized in Cairo in critical condition.
Authorities ordered people to stay out of the waters around Sharm el-Sheikh, a top vacation and diving destination, until the perpetrators were apprehended.
The ministry said it caught a 2.25-meter shark weighing 150 kilograms and a second that was 2.5 meters long, weighing 250 kilograms near the resort.
The sharks were taken to Ras Mohammed Conservation Center to be dissected to see whether there were any human remains inside.
Mohammed Salem, director of Sinai Conservation, said one of the sharks caught was a Mako shark and the other an Oceanic White Tip, which was the type of shark observed in both attacks.
"Usually these kinds of sharks don't attack human beings, but sometimes they have trouble with their nervous system and they accidentally go after people," he told The Associated Press.
He added that Egypt sees one to two fatal shark attacks a year.
One of the 12 hunters sent out to find the sharks said one of the animals had a notch in the fin, which one of the victims described.
(AP, MT)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.