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An Italian adept joined constabulary divers and rescue vessels for searches successful the Maldives connected Friday (May 15, 2026) , a time aft 5 Italian divers were killed successful a scuba accident, authorities said.
Italy's Foreign Ministry said the 5 divers “apparently died portion attempting to research caves astatine a extent of 50 meters (164 feet)" connected Thursday (May 14, 2026). It said the circumstances of their decease stay nether investigation.
Maldivian authorities said they launched a large rescue cognition aft the incidental connected Thursday (May 14, 2026) , deploying boats, craft and dive teams to hunt the area. One diver was recovered dormant successful a heavy underwater cave, with the assemblage recovered from astir 60 meters (200 feet) beneath the surface, the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) said successful statement.
The remaining 4 divers were believed to beryllium wrong the aforesaid cave, and further teams and specialised instrumentality were being sent for what officials described arsenic a dangerous, high-risk operation.
The Italian Foreign Ministry did not supply accusation connected the betterment of bodies. It said an Italian adept was assisting the seashore defender and Maldivian vessels successful the hunt cognition connected Friday (May 15, 2026).
It said officials planned a dive to measure entree to an underwater cave successful the Vaavu Atoll, wherever the mishap occurred, but unsmooth upwind conditions could hold the recovery.
The Ministry added that Italy’s Ambassador to Colombo, which oversees relations with the Maldives, has travelled to the superior Malé to conscionable with seashore defender officials. The Italian Embassy was besides successful interaction with the victims’ families and providing assistance.
The radical had been connected a greeting dive adjacent Alimathaa, and was reported missing aft failing to aboveground by midday Thursday (May 14, 2026) , according to archetypal reports. Conditions were described arsenic unfavorable astatine the time, with a yellowish upwind alert successful effect.
