Maldives rescue diver dies in search for missing Italians

A rescue diver in the Maldives searching for the bodies of four Italians, who drowned in the deadliest diving disaster in the Indian Ocean tourist destination, has also died, authorities confirmed.



Teams from the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) were searching for a third day for the Italians who failed to return after a dive on Thursday.



One body from the group of five was recovered the same day. Search operations are being carried out despite bad weather.



Earlier on Saturday, the Maldives suspended the operating licence of a luxury vessel from which the Italians had been diving from.

T

he University of Genoa said the victims included a marine biology professor, her daughter and two young researchers.



Chief government spokesman Mohamed Hussain Shareef said an investigation had been launched into why the group went below the officially permitted depth of 30 metres.