The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has confirmed the discovery of the bodies of four Italian tourists who went missing during a diving excursion in the Maldives. The remains were located today within the underwater cave where the group was last seen diving.

The discovery follows an intensive search and rescue operation coordinated by the MNDF Coast Guard and the Maldives Police Service. The operation was bolstered by international experts, including specialists brought in through the assistance of the Italian government and three expert divers from Finland who provided technical guidance during the mission.

According to security forces, the bodies were found trapped inside a deep section of the underwater cave system. Authorities are currently finalizing preparations for the recovery mission to retrieve the remains from the site, noting the complexity and risks involved in the upcoming dive operations.