The bodies of four Italian divers who tragically died during a diving expedition in Vaavu Atoll are scheduled for repatriation to Italy early tomorrow morning. The decision aims to facilitate post-mortem examinations in their home country.

Presidential Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef confirmed the arrangements, stating that the Maldivian government and Italian authorities have coordinated the transfer. Investigative reports and post-mortem findings conducted in Italy will be shared with Maldivian law enforcement to assist in the ongoing investigation.

The recovery operation concluded following a grueling search that began after the divers went missing on May 14. Their bodies were discovered on May 18 inside a deep underwater cave. A joint effort involving the Maldives Police Service, the MNDF Coast Guard, and international specialists—including a team from DAN Europe and three expert divers from Finland—was required to retrieve the victims from the challenging terrain.

A final dive was conducted yesterday by the DAN Europe team to retrieve operational equipment and ensure no environmental damage was left within the cave. Crucial evidence gathered during the operation has been handed over to the police. This tragic incident claimed a total of five Italian lives, including a diving instructor, and resulted in the loss of a Maldivian MNDF diver during the search and rescue efforts.