A search operation was underway Friday in the Maldives to recover the bodies of five Italians killed in a scuba diving incident while exploring underwater caves at a depth of more than 160 feet in the Vaavu Atoll area of the Indian Ocean archipelago. File Photo Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo
May 15 (UPI) -- Bad weather was hampering a major operation Friday in the Maldives to recover the bodies of five Italians killed in a scuba diving incident while exploring underwater caves at a depth of more than 160 feet in the Vaavu Atoll area of the Indian Ocean archipelago.
The Italian Foreign Ministry said in a news release that Maldivian Coast Guard vessels had arrived at the scene, about 50 miles south of the capital, Male, with dive rescue teams on board who were being assisted by an expert Italian diver, and were preparing to make a reconnaissance dive.
"At present, weather conditions may prevent the commencement of recovery operations; however, an initial dive aimed at exploring the access points of the cave is expected to be carried out, pending an improvement in weather conditions," said the ministry.
It added that the Italian Ambassador to Sri Lanka had arrived in Male to meet coast guard officials, who it said were working to piece together what happened, and that staff at the embassy were in contact with the victims' families to "provide all necessary consular assistance."
