Normandy beaches evacuated after shark spotted near coast
It was seen on Saturday and Sunday in Manche department
Alert flags were raised in two areas
JL Jahn/Shutterstock
Two French beaches were briefly evacuated this weekend after a shark was seen swimming close to the French shoreline.
The shark was spotted near the beach at Siouville-Hague (Manche) on Saturday afternoon (August 10), causing lifeguards to raise a red flag and evacuate beach-goers from the water.
Swimmers were asked to leave the water at around 14:00, and the local mairie and firefighters were informed.
At around 17:30, the sea was reopened to swimmers, with firefighters remaining nearby for an extra hour or so to reassure people it was safe to go in.
The next day (Sunday August 11) lifeguards also raised a red flag at nearby Sciotot beach for an hour, after the shark was seen there.
A violet flag, denoting danger in the water, was also raised, but both were later dropped, with swimmers allowed to return to the water.
The shark is possibly still in the local area but has not been seen since.
Shark ‘not dangerous’
The shark was thought to be either a hammerhead or porbeagle.
Hammerhead sharks are harmless to humans, and porbeagle sharks rarely attack humans, but have been known to in the past.
The mayors of both communes affected said they were reassured by other authorities that the shark was harmless, and precautions were taken for other reasons.
Catherine Bihel, mayor of Les Pieux where Sciotot is located, said the warnings were raised as the shark may have been injured and carrying bacteria that could endanger swimmers or pollute the seawater.
The mayors are now in touch with local wildlife associations on how to proceed.
Sharks are rare in French waters, but not impossible to see. They are more common in the south of France, along the Mediterranean coast.
Read more: Watch: Commotion as shark spotted near beach in southern France
