About 40 sharks, including fully grown adults, have been spotted off the coast of Makkah Province in Saudi Arabia, prompting a warning to beach-goers not to enter the water.
Makkah coastal guard Colonel Salih Ash Shahri said sea patrols along the northern corniche had detected the sharks, some of which were 2.5m long.
He warned against swimming, fishing or diving in the area.
“We have designated special areas for swimming and diving,” he told local daily Arab News.
“These areas are fenced off and therefore block the entrance of sharks or other dangerous sea animals.
“We have installed warning signs that prohibit people from swimming in areas where sharks are likely to be found.
“We also warn people against getting close to large sea animals.”
Sharks are usually more common in the Southern Hemisphere but are known to travel through the Red Sea.
The last recorded shark incident in Saudi Arabian waters was in March 2012 off the coast of Duba on the west coast, according to Shark Attack File Info, a website that collates shark incidents worldwide.
A Polish man attempting to kite surf from Saudi Arabia to Egypt spent an entire night fending off sharks with a knife.
Follow us on
