Shark Attack In Hawaii Kills 65-Year-Old Woman, Officials Close Nearby Area

The area around the shore of Maui, Hawaii, was closed on Wednesday, after a 65-year-old woman was killed in a shark attack the previous day. She was found unresponsive by snorkelers about 200 yards from the shore.

The woman was brought on the beach, but did not survive despite efforts by paramedics to revive her. Officials concluded that she was attacked by a shark after seeing the injuries on her torso, the Associated Press reported.

Authorities reportedly plan to keep the beaches in nearby areas in Maui, and a popular surf spot known as "The Dumps" closed until at least Thursday noon. Thereafter, they plan to assess the area and decide whether it is safe to reopen.

"The victim reportedly was snorkeling with two other friends and at some point separated from the others," the Maui fire department said, in a statement, according to CNN, adding: "She was alone when she was found."

There were no witnesses to the incident, but a report by NBC News identified the woman as a resident of Kihei, which lies about 12 miles from where her body was found.

There have been only three fatal shark attacks in Hawaii since 1995, but all of the attacks have occurred off the coast of Maui. The latest attack is the first fatal encounter this year.

Kekoa Kaluhiwa, first deputy director of Hawaii's department of land and natural resources, said, according to the AP, that his staff will place additional signs along the coast and investigate the case.