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  • New York Post

    Long Island beaches temporarily close after latest shark sighting

    By Deirdre Bardolf,

    7 hours ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3TE15V_0umvEekC00

    A perfect day for swimming on Long Island came to a crashing halt Saturday when a shark was spotted at Nickerson Beach — the latest in a record number of encounters with the apex predators.

    Lifeguards at the Nassau County park, which is located on the island’s South Shore, spotted the fins about 75 feet from the shore and immediately closed the beach, the town of Hempstead announced on X around 12:30 p.m.

    Nearby Malibu and Lido beaches were also closed.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2V3VKg_0umvEekC00
    Swimmers were temporarily evacuated from the waters at Nickerson Beach Saturday following a shark sighting. Edmund J Coppa

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    “Our highly skilled lifeguards are on alert and will continue to monitor the waters closely to ensure your safety,” the town said in its post.

    The scare was short-lived and beachgoers were allowed to return to the water a few hours later, according to local reports.

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    ⚠️Attention Beachgoers⚠️

    A shark sighting has been reported at Nickerson Beach. As a precaution, we will be closing Lido Beach and Malibu Beach for the time being. Our highly skilled lifeguards are on alert and will continue to monitor the waters closely to ensure your safety.

    — Town of Hempstead (@HempsteadTown) August 3, 2024

    The region was swamped with temperatures into the 90s and intense humidity Saturday.

    The sighting comes after a 7-foot shark spotted at Lido Beach in July made waves.

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    Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin announced last month that the town’s Shark Patrol was mobilized given the record number of shark sightings over the past several years.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=03wbDw_0umvEekC00
    Nassau County officials have been ramping up shark patrols amid a record number of sightings and bites in recent years. Getty Images/iStockphoto

    The patrol has been scoping out the waterways with drones equipped with thermal and infrared vision and responding to sightings on a new fleet of boats, according to a press release.

    The increase in shark sightings has also continued at New York City beaches as well as Long Island’s North Shore.

    Thirteen shark bites were recorded on Long Island in just the past two years.

    For the latest metro stories, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/metro/

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