Shark attack kills teenage boy on popular beach

A 13-year-old boy has died after being attacked by a shark at Chifre, a popular beach on Brazil’s eastern coast, authorities confirmed on Friday.

The State Committee for Monitoring Shark Incidents (CEMIT) said the boy was rushed to hospital but did not survive his injuries.

Chifre Beach, located in the popular tourist destination of Pernambuco, had issued four shark warnings for beachgoers prior to the attack. Dozens of other beaches along the region’s turquoise coastline also carry shark alerts.

Following the incident, CEMIT announced it would increase shark monitoring and reactivate a previously suspended program that tracks the creatures using microchips.

Since 1992, Pernambuco has recorded more than 80 shark attacks, 26 of which were fatal, according to CEMIT — not including Thursday’s victim.

Authorities urged residents and visitors to exercise caution along the coast as the monitoring program is intensified.