Great white shark in Adriatic Sea

The Croatian marine and tourism ministry confirmed Wednesday the presence of a four-metre-long great white shark in the northern Adriatic Sea.

The confirmation follows eyewitness reports earlier this month of a shark near the northern Istrian Peninsula and also near the island of Krk, Croatia's biggest Adriatic island.

The ministry warned tourists to be cautious and not to swim too far from the coast, but could not confirm if the sightings were of one or more sharks.

Local authorities have been advised to put warning flags in the sea. The last reported shark attack in Croatia was 1971 and was not fatal.