A team of three highly experienced Finnish divers arrived in the Maldives, dispatched by the Italian government to assist in the ongoing search operation for four missing Italian divers near Vaavu Atoll.
The specialists arrived with comprehensive diving equipment and immediately coordinated with local authorities to assess the situation and plan the resumption of the search effort.
Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef confirmed that the Finnish team met with Maldives Coast Guard officials upon arrival. During the briefing, strategies for resuming the suspended search operation were thoroughly discussed. Hussain Shareef indicated that the operation would recommence following careful evaluation of the conditions and coordination between the international team and local rescue personnel.
The search operation was temporarily suspended after a tragic incident resulted in the death of Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mahdi, one of the most experienced divers belonging to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard. His death during the rescue attempts has underscored the dangerous conditions of the search area near Vaavu Atoll.
The original disappearance was reported to the MNDF Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at 1:45 pm on 14 May. Upon receiving notification of the missing divers, the MNDF launched an extensive search operation utilising both maritime vessels and aircraft. The missing group consisted of an Italian diving instructor and four accompanying divers who had been exploring underwater in the Vaavu Atoll region.
So far, recovery teams have located the body of the Italian diving instructor. The government has taken administrative action by withdrawing the operating license of the vessel associated with the divers, pending further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.