イスラエル沖でサメ襲撃か、男性が行方不明

【ハデラ（イスラエル）ＡＦＰ＝時事】イスラエル警察は２２日、地中海沿岸でサメに襲われたとみられ、行方不明となっている男性を捜索していると発表した。同国でサメの襲撃が報告されたのは数十年ぶり。（写真は、イスラエル中部のハデラ沖の地中海で、行方不明者を捜索するイスラエルの救助隊員）
　捜索活動は２２日も男性が行方不明になった中部ハデラ市付近の地中海南東部で続けられた。
　捜索活動に参加している消防救助部隊の指揮官ドロン・エルマシャリ氏は「捜索エリアは非常に広く、非常に複雑だ。サメの近くで潜水する危険性がある」と述べた。
　緊急援助団体は２１日、男性がサメに襲われたとの目撃情報を受けた後、ハデラ近くの海岸で男性が行方不明になったとの連絡を受けたと述べた。
　現場にいたＡＦＰ記者は、背びれを水面に出す複数のサメのシルエットを目撃した。
　地中海の穏やかな水域でのサメの攻撃はまれだが、特にハデラ沖ではサメの目撃情報が相次いでいる。冬季には地元の発電所の近くに数十匹が集まることが知られている。
　発電所はタービンを冷却するために海水を使用し、その後、温まった水を放出するため、これがメジロザメやドタブカを引き寄せると考えられている。
　これらの種は全長数メートルまで成長するが、一般的には人間に対して攻撃的ではない。
　ハデラ沖の冬のサメの個体数は近年増加しており、これは発電所の拡張とサメ捕獲を禁止する法律の施行によるものと考えられている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2025/04/23-16:10）

Israeli police have been searching for a man reported missing following a suspected shark attack off the country's Mediterranean coast, the force said on Tuesday.
Shark attacks have not been reported in Israel for decades.
Police spokesman Aryeh Doron said that several findings have been sent for examination, without specifying the nature of the recovered evidence.
Search operations continued Tuesday in the southeastern Mediterranean, near the area of the central city of Hadera where the swimmer had disappeared.
The search area is very large, very complex, especially due to the danger posed by diving near sharks, said Doron Elmashali, commander of the fire and rescue unit involved in the operation.
He said underwater cameras were being used in the operation.
Emergency organisations Magen David Adom and Zaka on Monday said they had been informed of a man's disappearance off the coast near Hadera, after witnesses said he had been attacked by a shark.
An AFP journalist at the site saw shark silhouettes with dorsal fins breaking through the water's surface.
Israeli media have broadcast several videos in recent days showing sharks swimming near bathers, including children. One video appears to show a swimmer being attacked.
Police said Tuesday that a ban on entering the sea along large stretches of the coast would remain in effect.
Shark attacks in the calm waters of the Mediterranean are rare, but shark sightings, particularly off the coast of Hadera, are well documented, as dozens are known to gather near the local power station in winter months.
The plant uses sea water to cool its turbines, then discharges the warm water which is believed to attract sandbar and dusky sharks.
Although these species can grow to several metres in length, they are generally not aggressive toward humans.
The seasonal shark population off Hadera has increased in recent years, likely due to the expansion of the power plant and the implementation of legislation prohibiting their capture.
The Israeli Nature and Parks Authority and the Israeli diving association have issued warnings urging divers drawn by the presence of the sharks not to approach them.
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