Rockaway Beach in New York City was shut down on Thursday due to multiple sightings of bull sharks, according to the Parks Department. The aggressive predators were observed in the waves for several hours, prompting lifeguards to hoist red flags across the entire coastline around 1 p.m. The closures occurred on the day before the July 4th holiday weekend, a period when many New Yorkers seek relief from a prevailing heatwave.
Officials reported at least one shark sighting per hour since the initial spotting. The beach closures caused significant disappointment for beachgoers hoping to enjoy the holiday weekend during the sweltering temperatures. The situation at Rockaway Beach followed a separate sighting of a large, 9-foot shark approximately 15 miles east at Point Lookout earlier on Thursday.