MANILA - Authorities in Maldives will soon be establishing safe zones for swimming on its every island following the drowning of a newlywed Filipino couple there.
The information was revealed Thursday by Maldives Tourism Minister Ali Waheed, the Sun Online reported.
The minister said authorities will work together with island councils toward this effort to ensure that Maldives would be a safe travel destination.
The tropical nation in the Indian Ocean is popular for its white-sand beaches and luxury resorts.
Filipino high school sweethearts Leomer and Erika Joyce Lagradilla, both from Laguna, drowned while snorkeling off Dhiffushi island in Maldives over the weekend.
The two nurses, based in Singapore and Riyadh, respectively, were married just a month ago. They headed to the famed beach destination for their honeymoon on January 11, 2019.
The couple's family and friends initially sought help online to bring their bodies back home, but the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it would shoulder the repatriation costs.
The Maldives Ministry of Tourism then said it would take care of the costs of bringing them back home.
Maldives, honeymoon, accident, death, Filipinos abroad, Leomer Lagradilla, Erika Joyce Lagradilla, drowning, safety, Ali Waheed