Divers in Maldives resume search for Italian scuba divers who drowned in cave

Divers in the Maldives have resumed their search for the bodies of four Italian scuba divers who drowned while exploring a deep underwater cave. Due to rough weather on Friday, Maldivian authorities had temporarily suspended the high-risk operation to recover the bodies of the divers who, according to Italy’s foreign ministry, had “apparently died while attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 metres (165ft). Mohamed Hussain Shareef, the Maldivian presidential spokesperson, said eight divers took part in Friday’s search, working in pairs, with a plan to continue the mission on Saturday. In total, five Italians died in the scuba diving accident in Vaavu Atoll in the Indian Ocean archipelago on Thursday, Italy’s foreign ministry said. The body of the fifth diver was found near the mouth of a cave shortly afterwards, and rescuers believe the remaining four divers are inside the same cave, which is divided into three large chambers connected by narrow passages. Recovery teams had already explored two of the three chambers, but were hampered in their efforts to explore the third chamber. The search resumed on Saturday, with two Italians – a deep-sea rescue expert and a cave diving expert – expected to join the recovery effort. Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said the Italian government “will do everything possible to recover the bodies of our compatriots”. …