A 68-year-old Swiss woman has lost her life in a diving incident near Muli Island, Meemu Atoll, the Maldives Police Service (MPS) has confirmed. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.
The incident was reported to the police at 6:47 p.m. on Tuesday, a police spokesperson told Maldives Republic. The woman was rushed to Muli Hospital, where she was pronounced dead upon arrival, as per hospital officials.
The incident occurred while the woman was diving off the coast of Muli Island. She had travelled to the location on a safari vessel, according to local media reports.
This incident adds to a growing list of water-sports-related tragedies in the Maldives, which have claimed the lives of both locals and foreigners. Earlier this year, a young individual from Addu City tragically disappeared at sea while spearfishing.
Last year, the Ministry of Tourism issued a circular urging tourist establishments to adhere to safety protocols, especially for water-based activities such as swimming, snorkelling, and diving. The ministry also called on tourist facilities to update and enhance their emergency action plans for special circumstances, with a mandate to review these plans regularly to ensure their effectiveness.