The Italian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that five Italians tragically lost their lives in a scuba diving accident in the Maldives.
According to reports, the divers were exploring underwater caves at a depth of 50 meters (164 feet) in Vaavu Atoll when the incident occurred.
Among the deceased were four members of a team from the University of Genoa, including ecology professor, Monica Montefalcone, her daughter, Giorgia Sommacal, and two researchers, Muriel Oddenino and Federico Gualtieri.
The Maldives’ military has located one body in a cave approximately 60 meters underwater, with the other four divers believed to be in the same area.
Divers equipped with specialized gear have been deployed for a search operation, which has been deemed extremely high risk.
The incident is considered one of the most severe diving accidents in the popular tourist destination, known for its stunning coral islands.
Reports indicate that the five Italians entered the water on Thursday morning but did not resurface as expected, prompting the crew of their diving vessel to raise the alarm.
Local police noted that weather conditions were rough in the vicinity, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of the capital Malé, leading to a yellow warning for both passenger boats and fishermen.
The University of Genoa has publicly identified the victims, Professor Montefalcone, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, research fellow Muriel Oddenino, marine biology graduate Federico Gualtieri, and Gianluca Benedetti, who served as the boat operations manager and diving instructor.
In a statement on social media platform X, the university expressed its heartfelt condolences to the families affected by this tragedy.
While diving and snorkeling incidents are infrequent in the Maldives, there have been several fatalities in recent years.
Notably, an experienced British diver drowned last December off Ellaidhoo island, and a Japanese lawmaker died while snorkeling in Lhaviyani Atoll in 2024.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong