Three Finnish diving experts have arrived in the Maldives to assist in the recovery operation following a deadly diving accident that killed five Italian divers and a Maldivian rescue diver.
The Finnish team comes from the international safety organisation Divers Alert Network and was commissioned by the Italian government to support the search operation.
The accident took place on Thursday in remote waters in the Maldives, where the Italian divers became trapped in a deep underwater cave. One body was recovered shortly after the incident at a depth of around 60 metres, while searches continue for the remaining victims.
Authorities said a rescue diver from the Maldives National Defence Force later died in hospital from decompression-related complications after participating in the search effort.
Officials in the Maldives said assistance has also been provided by Italy, Britain, Australia and the United States. The multinational recovery operation is being coordinated between DAN and the Maldivian Coast Guard.
According to the University of Genoa, the victims included a marine biology professor, her daughter and two young researchers. The Maldives government has meanwhile suspended the operating licence of the luxury dive vessel involved in the incident.
