The government announced on Saturday that three international divers will arrive in the Maldives on Sunday to assist with the ongoing search for four Italian divers missing in Vaavu Atoll.

This support follows Italy’s request for international experts to be involved in the rescue efforts.

The announcement came just hours after the tragic death of Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mahudhee of the Maldives National Defence Force during the rescue operation.

Mahudhee, aged 44, passed away at ADK Hospital while receiving treatment for decompression sickness sustained during diving activities related to the search.

Mohamed Hussain Shareef, Chief Spokesperson at the President’s Office, stated that the international divers would arrive equipped with specialized gear and have expertise in cave diving.

“We understand that the three divers are from Finland and will arrive with specialized equipment for this mission,” Shareef explained.

He further mentioned that the governments of Italy, the United Kingdom, and Australia are also providing technical support for the operation.

Shareef said the team arriving is employed by an Italian company and includes experienced cave divers. They will work alongside the Maldives National Defence Force Coast Guard divers and review the current search strategy upon arrival.

“Once they arrive, they will coordinate with our teams to re-evaluate the plan before continuing,” he added.

The rescue efforts have been temporarily halted following Mahudhee’s death.

According to Shareef, eight officers participated in Saturday’s dive. Reports indicated that after surfacing, Mahudhee was found missing. Divers later went back underwater and found him unconscious.

The five Italian divers had descended approximately 60 meters near Alimatha in Vaavu Atoll while exploring an underwater cave, exceeding the 30-meter depth limit allowed for recreational diving under Maldivian regulations.