TWO more Spanish holiday beaches have been closed after new shark sightings.
Lifeguards ordered swimmers out of the sea at Melenara Beach in Gran Canaria after a police drone spotted a hammerhead shark.
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Lifeguards ordered bathers out of the water at Melenara Beach on Gran Canaria’s east coastCredit: Solarpix
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A police drone spotted a hammerhead shark lurking off the beachCredit: Solarpix
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A search for the shark in the area using jet skis failed to locate itCredit: Solarpix
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Three beaches were closed over the weekend after shark sightingsCredit: Solarpix
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It is the second time the beach has been forced to close after the first sighting of a shark sent terrified tourists fleeing on Saturday.
The ban on swimming on Sunday afternoon was also extended to the neighboring Salinetas beach.
About two hours later, lifeguards raised a red flag at a third location – San Augustin Beach in the south of the island – after a tourist broke a shark’s fin sticking out of the water.
It was not immediately clear whether the large fish was the same one that was spotted at Melenara beach on Saturday around 5 p.m., which caused the closure of the first beaches.
The beach reopened briefly on Sunday morning before closing again at 1 p.m. after local police drones spotted a shark near Taliarte port next to Melenara beach.
A red flag is also displayed at Salinetas Beach, further south.
Local police confirmed it was a hammerhead shark – the same species that caused panic on Saturday when it surfaced near the coast.
Its size was initially calculated to be just under 7ft – although a second drone sighting indicated it was up to 10ft.
A beach in San Augustino, 20 miles south, was also closed after another shark sighting.
He was reportedly spotted by a tourist near a restaurant overlooking the sea called Balcon de San Augustin. Red Cross officials later confirmed that they had also seen him.
A shark moment stalks the coast sending holidaymakers fleeing on Gran Canaria’s beach
The animal was not picked up again despite the efforts of the police and other officials to locate and track it.
The beach is expected to reopen on Monday – unless municipal leaders make a last-minute U-turn.
It’s not clear whether the shark seen further south is a hammerhead, which can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh up to 1,000 pounds, or another species.
Most hammerhead species are considered harmless to humans and few attacks have been reported, but they are aggressive hunters and their size and ferocity make them potentially harmless.
PANIC ON THE BEACH
Young girls could be heard screaming as the shark that caused panic on Melenara beach on Saturday afternoon approached the shore at high speed with its fin above the water.
Footage from the scene showed youngsters running to save themselves as the shark swam towards shore before turning back at the last minute after thrashing around in the water.
Another man was filmed with a child in his arms from the safety of the sand as he watched it come towards them.
A Telde municipality spokesman said: “It is important that people remain calm and follow the instructions of rescuers and the authorities.”
A young girl who was in the water when the shark appeared told a local TV station: “The lifeguard started blowing his whistle and motioning for everyone to get out of the water, and I looked back and saw his fin.”
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A hammerhead shark stalked the shore at Melenara BeachCredit: Solarpix
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The footage shows the youngsters running for safety as the shark swam towards the beachCredit: Solarpix
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Melenara Beach in Gran Canaria was closed for two days in a rowCredit: Solarpix
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Rescuers searching for a shark off the east coast of Gran CanariaCredit: Solarpix
The friend added: “We saw a fin that was about seven inches out of the water and we started moving as fast as we could back towards the beach.”
PREVIOUS SIGHTINGS
Last month, tourists and locals were banned from entering the sea after a shark was spotted off a beach in Menorca.
The coastguard raised a red flag and called the Spanish equivalent of 999 after the fin of a seven-foot blue shark, or tinterro, was seen above the waterline.
The alert was raised around 3.30pm on May 6 at the popular Arenal d’en Castell beach – the same spot where another shark was spotted in June 2018 when swimmers were banned from entering the water.
The shark sighting was described at the time as the first so far this year near Costa Beach.
Blue sharks rarely bite humans, but have been involved in several bite incidents, four of which reportedly ended fatally.
A blue shark was blamed for an attack on tourists in Elche near Alicante in July 2016.
The 40-year-old was rushed to the hospital and the wound on his hand was stitched up.
First responders described the bite as “large” and said he emerged from the sea with a bloody wound.
In June last year, a 7ft blue shark caused panic at the Costa Blanca Aguamarina beach in the Orihuela Costa south of Alicante.
Swimmers were filmed trying to escape to safety through waist-deep water approaching the shore.
Rescuers blew whistles to warn locals and tourists about the big fish and urged them to get out of the sea as soon as possible.
The shark washed up on dead rocks the next day at La Caleta Beach in Cabo Roig, a few miles away.
‘KEEP CALM’
After the sighting over the weekend in Gran Canaria, biologist Asier Furundarena insisted there was no cause for alarm.
He said: “People should respect the instructions they receive from rescuers and the local police or other authorities present and remain calm because absolutely nothing will happen to them.
“They should also enjoy the moment they witness because it’s a privilege to see species like these that are threatened in other parts of the world and can seek refuge here.”
What are hammerhead sharks and are they dangerous?
HAMMERHEAD sharks are a peculiar and fascinating group of sharks known for their unique hammerhead heads, called cephalopods.
There are nine species of hammerhead sharks, the most famous being the great hammerhead, the hammerhead shark, and the smooth hammerhead.
Hammerhead sharks are generally not considered very dangerous to humans. Although they are large, powerful predators, they are not known to be aggressive towards humans.
Documented hammerhead shark attacks on humans are extremely rare. When such incidents do occur, they are usually cases of mistaken identity or provoked situations.
Hammerheads are usually shy and avoid people. They may show curiosity but are unlikely to show aggressive behavior unless threatened or provoked.
Many divers and swimmers encounter hammerhead sharks without any problems. In fact, these encounters are often sought after by divers due to the impressive appearance of the sharks and the relatively low risk they pose.
Although usually not dangerous, caution should always be exercised around large marine animals.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education