Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, has sent a message of condolence to the Maldives’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Iruthisham Adam, following the death of Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) diver Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mahudhee.

In his message, Minister Tajani thanked the Foreign Minister for the condolences he had earlier conveyed in connection with the tragic incident in Vaavu Atoll, in which one of five Italian divers lost his life and four others remain missing.

He stated that the death of Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mahudhee, who was taking part in efforts to locate the missing Italian tourists, had brought additional sorrow during what is already a deeply distressing time for Italy.

On behalf of the government and people of Italy, as well as in his personal capacity, Minister Tajani extended condolences to the Government of the Maldives, the Maldives National Defence Force, and the Maldivian people.

He noted that the people of both countries stand together in mourning and expressed heartfelt sympathy to all families affected by the tragedy, while wishing them strength and resilience during this difficult period.

Minister Tajani also expressed appreciation for the ongoing efforts of the Maldivian authorities to locate the missing divers.

He further affirmed that the Italian government stands ready to provide full support and cooperation to the special operation currently underway to continue the search for the missing tourists.