Shark kills vacationer in the Red Sea, another tourist injured!

By Klaus Blume

Cairo - A tourist from Italy has been killed and another injured in a shark attack in south-eastern Egypt.

After the shark attack, the Marsa Alam beach section was immediately closed.
After the shark attack, the Marsa Alam beach section was immediately closed.  © Helmut Fohringer/EPA/dpa

Environment Minister Jasmin Fuad announced a thorough investigation into the incident. The affected beach section in Marsa Alam on the Red Sea will be closed for two days.

The area around the Red Sea first attracted media attention at the end of November when the tourist yacht "Sea Story" sank .

According to the ministry, the attack occurred in deep water outside the actual swimming area.

According to the Italian news agencies Ansa and Adnkronos, the victims were two Italians. Ansa also described the victim as a "diver".

Shark attacks are relatively rare worldwide, with many more people dying every year from snake bites or dog attacks , for example.

But they do cause quite a stir. On Saturday, an angler was killed by a shark off the north-east coast of Australia .