The aquatic security 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 director of Operations and Rescue for Aquatic Safety.
The incident occurred on Sunday when beachgoers saw the animal approaching the shore in the afternoon.
According to witnesses, the shark measures approximately two meters and its behavior suggested that it could be sick or injured.
In the presence of the fish, the bathers immediately left the water out of fear of a possible attack.
"The witnesses immediately left the water anticipating an attack from the marine visitor. I am informed that it continues to hover around the coastal area of Siboney," Arias noted in his statement.
The decision to temporarily close the beach was made while it is being verified whether the shark remains in the area or has moved away from the shore.
To address the situation, several agencies were activated: the XX Aniversario Polyclinic, the Risk Management Center, the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (CITMA), the Lifeguard Corps, and Red Cross volunteers residing in areas near the beach.
Despite the warnings, Arias himself confirmed that some people were still in the water: "A few minutes ago, I spoke by phone with a volunteer and resident of the area, who mentioned that despite the warnings, there are people on the beach."
Authorities urged swimmers to heed the instructions of the Lifeguard Corps 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 sees its highest influx of visitors between June and September.
It's not the first time Cuba has faced a situation like this. In December 2024, several sharks swam close to the shore in Cayo Santa María, in Villa Clara, prompting the temporary evacuation of bathers in front of the Royalton hotel.
In May of this year, a large shark was caught at Yumurí beach in Baracoa, Guantánamo, during 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 –that is on record– occurred in November 2017 in Guardalavaca, Holguín, where a 22-year-old man lost his life.
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