Four More Italian Divers Found Dead in Maldives Cave

Kathmandu. Italy's Foreign Ministry and the Maldives' army said on Monday that a diving team that went to the Maldives' sea for research had accidentally drowned and the bodies of four more Italian citizens among the deceased had been found but could not yet be brought to the surface.

One of those missing in the water was brought out of the water dead on Thursday. The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) issued a statement saying, "The dead bodies of four more missing divers have been found inside the 'Vavu Atoll' cave." Italy's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the news.

"The deceased have not yet been brought to the surface," MNDF said, adding, "The work to bring the deceased out of the water will be done soon." An Italian government official told AFP, "This is a difficult task and it may take 'some time' to bring the bodies to the surface."

Last Thursday, a group of five Italians had gone into a deep underwater cave for research but failed to return to the surface. One person was brought out of the water dead on the same day.

A diver who was engaged in the search for them died on Saturday while engaged in rescue efforts. This accident is the deadliest diving accident in the tourist destination of the Indian Ocean.