Australia closes dozens of east coast beaches after shark attacks

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Erin HaleJanuary 20, 2026 at 07:33 AM

Australia closes dozens of east coast beaches after shark attacks

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AI Summary

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Dozens of beaches along the New South Wales (NSW) coastline in eastern Australia have been closed as of January 20, 2026, due to a recent surge in shark attacks. Four confirmed attacks have occurred since the previous Sunday, including incidents near Port Macquarie, Manly, and Dee Why. One victim is in critical condition, while others sustained injuries. Authorities have closed beaches for at least 48 hours in some areas, advising people to avoid swimming in the ocean. Experts attribute the increased shark activity to recent heavy rains creating conditions that draw sharks closer to shore during the busy summer holiday period.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Manly 40% Shark Smart App 40% Dee Why 40% Northern Beaches Council 50% Surf Life Saving New South Wales 50% ABC News ×260% Point Plomer 60% Steven Pearce 60% Port Macquarie ×270% Sydney ×480% New South Wales ×685% Australia ×390%

Keywords

shark attacks 100% beach closures 80% nsw coastline 70% rainy conditions 60% shark sightings 50% summer holidays 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.40

Source Transparency

Source

Al Jazeera

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Australia

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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shark attacks beach closures nsw coastline rainy conditions shark sightings summer holidays

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