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By Amanda Greenwood
Associate News Editor
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Beaches around Pacific Grove in California—including Lovers Point Beach and beaches within a one-mile radius—are closed from Sunday, December 21, due to an unconfirmed shark-related incident, according to a joint statement issued by the City of Pacific Grove, City of Monterey, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Why It Matters
According to data from Tracking Sharks, as of December 16, there have been a total of 22 confirmed and verified shark attacks in the U.S. this year. Out of these, three of the attacks were reported in California.
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What To Know
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The search for a 55-year-old woman started on Sunday after she was reported missing near Lovers Point in Pacific Grove, California.
While law enforcement officials said, according to local news outlet SFGate, that shark attacks are considered rare along the central Californian coast, they do occur—and they believe that “the incident may be consistent with a shark attack.”
The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that the woman, who was participating in a regular weekly open-water swim with a group, failed to return to shore, SFGate and KRON4 reported. A witness on land reported seeing a “large splash,” and two others said they believed she may have encountered a shark “while swimming offshore near Lovers Point.”
Law enforcement officials performed an immediate evacuation of the water by other swimmers.
The Pacific Grove Police Department and Monterey Fire Department were first notified about the missing swimmer at 12:04 p.m. on Sunday, and are working together with the U.S. Coast Guard, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, and California State Parks, to continue the ongoing search. They have deployed rescue boats and helicopters to scan the area, according to the joint statement made.
What People Are Saying
The City of Pacific Grove, City of Monterey, and U.S. Coast Guard confirmed in its joint statement that: “Lovers Point Beach in Pacific Grove, and McAbee and San Carlos Beaches in Monterey will remain closed through Tuesday, December 23. A beach advisory will remain in place for Asilomar State Beach, Monterey Municipal Beach, Del Monte Beach, and Monterey State Beach through December 23.”
Commander Brian Anderson of the Pacific Grove Police Department told SFGate: “She’s a 55-year-old, blonde, blue-eyed woman that is currently missing and that we’re searching.”
Commander Anderson also told CBS News: “We had a swim club that does a weekly swim out here off Lovers Point. They immediately called all the swimmers in and there was one swimmer who hasn’t reported back yet.”
What Happens Next
Officials announced that search operations were suspended overnight on Sunday due to darkness and would resume at first light on Monday.
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