Officials in Hawaii are searching for a woman after a shark sighting

The search for a woman who disappeared in the water off South Maui, Hawaii a day earlier after authorities say she and her husband “possibly” encountered a shark, continued on Friday.

The U.S. Coast Guard, first responders and officers from the Department of Conservation and Resource Enforcement began searching after the woman’s husband called 911 around noon Thursday and said she was missing.

The husband, who was not named, told authorities he and his wife were snorkeling about 50 meters offshore when he repeatedly saw a shark swimming by, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources spokesman Dan Dennison told reporters in a briefing on Thursday.

The husband said he returned to shore after searching for his wife, according to Dennison. First responders soon began air and water searches for the woman, Dennison said.

Dennison said there have been no reports of a shark sighting since the initial call, and authorities have urged swimmers to stay clear of the area and posted shark warning signs.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources said first responders on site tried to “account for all those who may have been involved”.

The search for the missing woman continued through Thursday night and resumed on Friday, Dennison said.

“The Maui Fire Department has multiple firefighters on skis and divers and MFD Air 1, and U.S. Coast Guard aircraft are conducting aerial searches,” the DLNR said. “The MFD lifeboat is also responding.”

Fox News was unable to immediately reach the DLNR or the US Coast Guard for further comment on the incident.