Maldives Rescue Operation Turns Fatal During Search for Missing Divers

(MENAFN) A rescue operation in the Maldives turned fatal on Saturday after a Maldivian diver died while participating in efforts to locate missing Italian scuba divers following a deep-water diving accident in the Vaavu Atoll region.

Tourism Minister Mohamed Ameen said in a post on the US social media platform X that Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mahdy, a member of the Maldivian national defense force, lost his life during the search operation.

“Deeply saddened by the passing of Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mahdy who lost his life during the rescue operation in Vaavu Atoll while searching for the missing tourists following the deep diving incident,” Mohamed Ameen said.

According to officials, the diver died after suffering underwater decompression sickness and was later transferred to a hospital in the capital, Malé, where he was pronounced dead.

The incident occurred during ongoing efforts to locate four Italian divers who went missing during a deep-sea exploration near Alimathaa in Vaavu Atoll. The group had been conducting dives at depths of around 60 meters while exploring underwater cave systems.

Italy’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that five Italians, including a university professor and marine researchers, died in the broader accident earlier in the week. One body was recovered near a cave entrance shortly after the incident, while authorities believe the remaining missing divers may still be inside the cave system.

Recovery operations have been hindered by difficult weather conditions and the complexity of the underwater terrain, forcing a temporary suspension before search efforts resumed on Saturday.

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