Summary
13 December 2010
Officials in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh say they are reopening the beaches after a series of shark attacks. New safety measures will be introduced. The beaches were closed after a German tourist was recently killed while snorkelling.
Reporter:
Jon Leyne
Egyptian officials suggested this mako shark attacked people
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Report
After a survey by a group of international experts, the beaches at Sharm el-Sheikh are to reopen, but only after strict new safety measures are in place. There will be continuous patrols by boats close to shore.
Watch towers are being established along the beaches, manned by professional divers, equipped with binoculars to scan for any sign of sharks. Swimmers will have to remain within designated areas, and rules against feeding sharks or any other sea life are being reinforced.
The international shark experts concluded that recent attacks were carried out by more than one shark, so waiting until the culprit was caught seems not to have been an option before opening the beaches, especially as the peak Christmas season approaches. But tourists may be understandably nervous and at least some cancellations are reported.
Jon Leyne, 大象传媒 News
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Vocabulary
- continuous patrols
constant watching and inspecting
- being established
being set up or created
- binoculars
an instrument with two small lenses, which make things far way away look bigger
- scan
look carefully
- designated
clearly marked or signposted
- reinforced
strengthened or increased
- carried out
to do something
- culprit
here, the shark which attacked swimmers
- peak
here, the busiest time of
- understandably nervous
concerned in a way that seems normal after recent events
