A 13-year-old boy died on Thursday after being attacked by a shark at a beach along Brazil’s eastern coastline, according to a statement from the state government.
The incident occurred near Chifre Beach, a popular tourist area in Pernambuco state, the State Committee for Monitoring Shark Incidents (CEMIT) reported.
The boy was rushed to the hospital following the attack but later succumbed to his injuries, CEMIT confirmed.
Authorities noted that dozens of beaches along Pernambuco’s clear blue coastline have shark warning signs in place, with Chifre Beach displaying four separate warnings to alert swimmers.
Despite the existing precautions, CEMIT announced plans to strengthen shark surveillance in response to the tragedy and to reinstate a previously suspended program that tracks sharks using microchips.
Since 1992, Pernambuco has recorded more than 80 shark attacks, 26 of which were fatal, not including the most recent incident involving the 13-year-old boy.
