Search underway for missing snorkeler in Hawaii amid fears of possible shark attack - NBC News

Authorities successful Hawaii are searching for a 60-year-old woman who went missing successful the waters of South Maui connected Thursday portion snorkeling with her husband.

Officials began their hunt aft the woman's hubby called 911 conscionable earlier noon section clip (5 p.m. ET) connected Thursday to study that helium had seen a shark aquatics by repeatedly and could not find his woman aft they had gone snorkeling astir 50 yards disconnected Keawakapu Point, Dan Dennison, elder communications manager of the Hawaii Land and Natural Resources told reporters precocious Thursday.

First responders from the occurrence department, Coast Guard and the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement are searching the country successful the h2o and by air.

Rescuers hunt for a missing snorkeler astatine Keawakapu Point successful Kihei, Hawaii connected Dec. 8, 2022.KHNL

Further accusation connected the imaginable victim's individuality oregon hometown were not instantly available.

Authorities urged radical to steer wide of the country wherever the hunt is underway, and said that shark informing signs from the Mana Kai Maui edifice to Ulua Point volition stay successful spot until astatine slightest noon section clip connected Friday.

Maui "tends to person a batch of shark activity," Dennison said Thursday.

Data from the Hawaii Land and Natural Resources shows that determination person been six recorded shark incidents this year, 1 of which occurred successful Maui, not including yesterday's incident. The astir caller incidental that occurred successful Maui anterior to yesterday's incidental took spot successful September, erstwhile a snorkeler mislaid their near limb and 2 fingers connected their close manus aft encountering a shark, the information shows.