The aquatic safety authorities of Santiago de Cuba have ordered the temporary suspension of swimming at playa Siboney, the main beach of the province, following the sighting of a shark in the area, according to an alert shared on social media this Tuesday by Aris Arias Batalla, the provincial head of Operations and Rescue for Aquatic Safety.
The incident occurred on Sunday when swimmers saw the animal approach the shore in the afternoon.
According to witnesses, the shark is approximately two meters long and its behavior suggested it might be sick or injured.
Upon sighting the fish, the bathers immediately left the water out of fear of a potential attack.
"The witnesses immediately left the water, anticipating an attack from the sea visitor. I am informed that it continues to roam the Siboney coastline," Arias stated in his announcement.
The decision to temporarily close the beach was made while it is verified whether the shark remains in the area or has moved away from the coast.
To address the situation, several organizations were activated: the XX Anniversary Polyclinic, the Risk Management Center, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA), the Lifeguard Corps, and Red Cross volunteers residing in areas close to the beach.
Despite the warnings, Arias himself confirmed that some people remained in the water: "A few minutes ago, I contacted a volunteer and resident of the area via phone, who reported that despite the warnings, there are people on the beach."
Authorities urged swimmers to follow the instructions of the lifeguards and the police to prevent accidents or loss of life.
Anyone with additional information about the shark sighted in Siboney can contact Aris Arias Batalla at the phone numbers 59998330 and 52720069.
Playa Siboney is the most popular beach resort in Santiago de Cuba, located about 15 km east of the capital city, and it experiences its highest visitor volume between June and September.
It is not the first time that Cuba has faced a situation like this. In December 2024, several sharks swam close to the shore in Cayo Santa María, in Villa Clara, which led to the temporary evacuation of bathers in front of the Royalton hotel.
In May of this year, a large shark was captured at Yumurí beach in Baracoa, Guantánamo, in an event that went viral on social media and highlighted the presence of large specimens in Cuban waters.
Shark attacks in Cuba have historically been very rare: between 1749 and 2023, approximately 47 incidents were recorded throughout the archipelago, with 23 confirmed deaths.
The last fatal attack –on record– occurred in November 2017 in Guardalavaca, Holguín, where a 22-year-old young man lost his life.
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