Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad said the authorities formed an investigation team after receiving a report of a shark attack on a beachgoer in Hurghada.

The investigation team confirmed that the victim died after an attack by a Tiger shark, according to the statement.

Minister Fouad then issued directives to local authorities to scan the water perimeter around the location where the incident took place to monitor any movements of the fish that attacked the victim, read the statement.

Spotting then a ban
 

After authorities spotted the fish in question swimming near the surface in the said perimeter, the environment ministry issued a two-day ban on swimming, snorkelling and all other water sports activities in the area between Gouna to the north of Hurghada and Soma Bay to its south, effective starting Friday morning, according to the statement.

The ban goes in line with the international protocols applied in the event of such incidents, noted the ministry.

The ministry also called on all residents and visitors on the Red Sea coast in Egypt to abide by all instructions and regulations which govern dealing with natural resources in the area in order to ensure their own safety.

Consulate identifies victim
 

According to a statement by the Russian state-owned news agency TASS on Thursday evening, the Russian consulate in Hurghada confirmed that a 24-year Russian citizen, Popov V.W., who was a permanent resident in Hurghada, died as a result of a shark attack off the coast of the city in the afternoon hours.

In a statement on its official Facebook page, the Russian consulate in Hurghada advised "Russian citizens to remain vigilant when in the water; respect the ban on swimming and diving imposed by the Egyptian authorities; and follow all hotel and coast guard instructions," the consulate statement added.

A 2022 report on shark attacks, which was jointly issued by specialists on Red Sea protectorates and Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association, has cautioned shark attacks take place usually during their mating and egg-laying season, which runs from mid-April to the end of July.

The most recent incident of this kind occurred in July 2022 when two women lost their lives following shark attacks off the coast of Hurghada. In 2020, another unfortunate attack resulted in a Ukrainian boy losing an arm, and an Egyptian tour guide losing a leg and in 2018, a shark killed a Czech tourist off a Red Sea beach.