Overview
- New South Wales Police closed all northern Sydney city beaches until further notice, with the decision under continuous review.
- Authorities reported four incidents within roughly two days: injuries to a 12-year-old at Vaucluse on Jan. 18, an attempted bite on an 11-year-old at Dee Why, an attack on a 20-year-old at Manly on Jan. 19, and leg lacerations to a 39-year-old at Point Plomer on Jan. 20.
- State officials said the shark mitigation program is active, using drone patrols and underwater acoustic listening stations that detect sharks within about 500 meters of popular beaches.
- Police and researchers point to sea temperatures above about 22°C and recent rainfall mixing fresh and salt water as conditions that increase shark presence, including bull sharks lingering in the harbor.
- Separately, reports that several hotels in Egypt’s Makadi Bay closed beaches were refuted by local protected-area authorities, who said hotels are operating normally and marine patrols continue.