Five Italian scuba divers have died in an accident while exploring caves at a depth of 50 meters in the Maldives, Italy's foreign ministry confirmed. The incident occurred in Vaavu Atoll, south of the capital Malé.

Four of the victims were part of a University of Genoa team, including ecology professor Monica Montefalcone, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, and two researchers. The fifth victim was identified as Gianluca Benedetti, a boat operations manager and diving instructor.

The Maldives military reported that one body was found in a cave about 60 meters underwater, with the other four believed to be in the same location. Specialized divers with equipment have been deployed, and the search operation is described as high-risk.

The five Italians entered the water on Thursday morning. The crew of their diving vessel reported them missing when they failed to resurface. Police noted rough weather conditions, with a yellow warning issued for passenger boats and fishermen in the area.

The University of Genoa expressed its deepest condolences to the victims' families. This incident is believed to be the worst single diving accident in the Maldives, a popular tourist destination. While diving accidents are relatively rare, several fatalities have occurred in recent years, including a British diver in December 2024 and a Japanese lawmaker in 2024.

Source: www.bbc.com