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Rare Shark Attack Off Northern Israel Coast Leaves One Missing
A swimmer is currently unaccounted for following an exceedingly rare shark attack at Hadera, located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Tel Aviv, on Monday.
The event took place along the shoreline, with several bystanders on Olga Beach capturing the shocking scenario on video, which has since been shared widely across social media platforms.
This particular area is known for attracting sharks, as warm water is released by a nearby power station. Although sharks often gather there, particularly during this season, they are typically not harmful to humans.
Remarkably, since the establishment of Israel in 1948, there have been no recorded instances of fatal shark attacks in its waters.
In response to the incident, local authorities have closed the beach while efforts to locate the missing swimmer are ongoing.
Footage shared online depicts a man appearing to struggle at a distance of a few hundred feet offshore, with observers on the beach expressing alarm as they witness what they believe to be an attack.
“I was in the water, I saw blood and there were screams,” recounted witness Eliya Motai to Ynet news. “I was only a few meters from the shore. It was terrifying. We were here yesterday and saw the sharks circling us.”
The species commonly found in this area include dusky and sandbar sharks, which are drawn to the warmer waters created by the Orot Rabin power station, Israel’s largest power facility, along with fish that are funneled down from a nearby stream.
As reported by YNet, Monday’s incident marks only the fourth documented shark attack in Israel’s history, raising concerns about safety and wildlife encounters along the nation’s beaches.
Source
www.bbc.com