Five Italian divers died in the Maldives after disappearing during a scuba expedition near Vaavu Atoll, as authorities continued a difficult underwater recovery operation on Friday.
Maldivian officials said the group, which included an instructor, was believed to have been exploring a deep underwater cave when the accident happened on Thursday.
One body was recovered from around 60 metres below the surface, while the remaining four divers were believed to still be inside the same cave.
“The cave is so deep that divers even with the best equipment do not try to approach,” presidential spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef said.
Italy’s Foreign Ministry said the divers had apparently been attempting to explore caves at a depth of about 50 metres, adding that the exact circumstances of the tragedy remain under investigation.
Authorities launched a large-scale rescue and recovery effort involving coast guard vessels, aircraft and dive teams. A first search operation failed to locate the remaining bodies, and officials said rough sea conditions were complicating further dives.
The group had been diving near Alimathaa in Vaavu Atoll and was reported missing after failing to resurface by midday Thursday. Weather conditions in the area were described as poor, with a yellow alert in effect at the time of the accident.
Italian diplomats and technical experts were assisting the operation, while the Italian Embassy remained in contact with the victims’ families.
The Maldives, a popular destination for diving tourism, has recorded several fatal marine accidents in recent years, though incidents of this scale are rare.
