Unprovoked shark attacks are rare in the Bahamas, with just 34 recorded since 1580, according to the Florida Museum’s International Shark Attack File. This ranks the Caribbean country ninth among all tracked countries, with the US leading at 1,640 cases, followed by Australia with 706 and South Africa with 262, the data shows.

Two American women visiting the Bahamas over the weekend were attacked by a shark, local authorities said, with at least one of the victims sustaining serious injuries.

Two American tourists in the Bahamas have been injured in an apparent shark attack. In a press release shared by the Royal Bahamas Police Force on Saturday, Feb. 8, the department said they were investigating “an alleged shark attack” involving two American women.

Described as a “nightmare” situation, a 55-year-old Canadian was attacked by a 7-foot bull shark while vacationing in Turks and Caicos.

While on what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation, my sister-in-law and her husband, my brother, lived what can only be described as a nightmare,” the relative said.