Five Italians Die in Maldives Cave Diving Tragedy

Five Italian divers died in a scuba diving accident in the Maldives, with one body recovered from a deep underwater cave and four others still missing. The incident occurred in Vaavu Atoll, a popular diving spot, where the divers were exploring caves at depths of around 50 meters (164 feet). The group, which included a marine biology professor, her daughter, and two researchers from the University of Genoa, failed to resurface after a morning dive on Thursday. The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) launched a major search operation, deploying aircraft, speedboats, and dive teams. One body was found inside a cave extending to about 60 meters (200 feet) deep, and the remaining four divers are believed to be inside the same cave. Rescue efforts have been described as high-risk due to adverse weather conditions. The Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed the deaths and stated that an Italian expert is assisting in the search. The Italian Embassy in Sri Lanka is providing assistance to the victims' families and other Italians aboard the Duke of York yacht, where the group had been staying. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.