Recovery operation suspended for bodies of Italian divers in Maldives cave
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- A high-risk operation to recover the bodies of four Italian divers from an underwater cave in the Maldives was suspended due to rough seas, with efforts expected to resume on Saturday.
- The divers, including a university ecology professor, her daughter, a marine biologist, a researcher, and a diving instructor, apparently died while exploring caves at a depth of 50 meters in Vaavu Atoll.
- Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani emphasized that despite bad weather, everything possible would be done to recover the victims, with two Italian diving experts expected to join the recovery mission.
- Cave diving at such depths is highly technical and dangerous, requiring specialized training and equipment, and the cause of the deaths remains under investigation.
- The Italian government is coordinating with specialist organizations to support recovery and repatriation efforts, while providing assistance and psychological aid to other expedition members.