Five Italians have died in a scuba diving accident in the Maldives, according to the foreign ministry in Rome. The divers are believed to have died while attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 metres (164ft) in Vaavu Atoll. Four of the divers were part of a University of Genoa team, including professor of ecology Monica Montefalcone, her daughter, and two other researchers. The Maldives' military reported that one body had been found in a cave approximately 60m underwater, while the other four are believed to be in the same location.
Specially equipped divers have been sent to the area for recovery operations, deemed high risk by authorities. The Italian foreign ministry is collaborating with Maldivian officials to search for the bodies, and reassured that another 20 Italian nationals aboard the Duke of York yacht, from which the divers embarked, are uninjured and receiving assistance from the Embassy of Italy in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The accident is considered one of the deadliest single diving incidents in the Maldives, a well-known tourist destination famed for its coral islands. Reports indicate that the divers entered the water on Thursday morning and were reported missing by the crew of their vessel when they did not resurface. Authorities issued a yellow warning for rough weather conditions in the area, 100km south of Male.
The causes of the accident have yet to be confirmed, although dive master Maurizio Uras suggested that 'oxygen toxicity' might have played a role, particularly at the greater depths they were diving. The local Coast Guard conducted multiple dives to explore the underwater cave system where the accident occurred, and further dives are planned to ascertain the conditions leading to this tragedy. The University of Genoa expressed its condolences to the families of those lost during this tragic event.
Specially equipped divers have been sent to the area for recovery operations, deemed high risk by authorities. The Italian foreign ministry is collaborating with Maldivian officials to search for the bodies, and reassured that another 20 Italian nationals aboard the Duke of York yacht, from which the divers embarked, are uninjured and receiving assistance from the Embassy of Italy in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The accident is considered one of the deadliest single diving incidents in the Maldives, a well-known tourist destination famed for its coral islands. Reports indicate that the divers entered the water on Thursday morning and were reported missing by the crew of their vessel when they did not resurface. Authorities issued a yellow warning for rough weather conditions in the area, 100km south of Male.
The causes of the accident have yet to be confirmed, although dive master Maurizio Uras suggested that 'oxygen toxicity' might have played a role, particularly at the greater depths they were diving. The local Coast Guard conducted multiple dives to explore the underwater cave system where the accident occurred, and further dives are planned to ascertain the conditions leading to this tragedy. The University of Genoa expressed its condolences to the families of those lost during this tragic event.
