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A Maldivian subject diver died Saturday (May 16, 2026) portion searching for the bodies of 4 Italian divers believed to beryllium heavy wrong an underwater cave.
The radical of 5 Italian divers is believed to person died portion exploring a cave astatine a extent of astir 50 metres successful Vaavu Atoll connected Thursday (May 14, 2026), according to Italy's Foreign Ministry. The recreational diving bounds successful the Maldives is 30 metres.
Maldives Presidential Spokesman Mohammed Hussain Shareef said that Mohamed Mahudhee, a subordinate of the Maldivian National Defence Force, died of underwater decompression sickness aft being transferred to a infirmary successful the capital.
“The decease goes to amusement the trouble of the mission,” helium said.
Earlier, Mr. Shareef said the searchers had prepared a program based connected their advancement exploring the cave connected Friday (May 15, 2026). Mr. Mahudhee was portion of the radical that briefed Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu connected the rescue program erstwhile helium visited the hunt tract connected Friday (May 15, 2026).
Rough upwind has repeatedly hampered rescue efforts.
The Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said everything imaginable would beryllium done to bring the victims home. His Ministry stated it was coordinating with Divers Alert Network, a specializer diving organisation, to enactment betterment operations and the repatriation of the bodies. The origin of the deaths remains nether investigation.
The victims person been identified arsenic Monica Montefalcone, an subordinate prof of ecology astatine the University of Genoa; her daughter, Giorgia Sommacal; marine biologist Federico Gualtieri; researcher Muriel Oddenino; and diving teacher Gianluca Benedetti, according to the Maldivian government.
Benedetti's assemblage was recovered connected Thursday (May 14, 2026).
Montefalcone and Oddenino were successful the Maldives connected an authoritative technological ngo to show marine environments and survey the effects of clime alteration connected tropical biodiversity, the University of Genoa said successful a connection Friday (May 15, 2026). However, the scuba diving enactment during which the deadly mishap occurred was not portion of the planned probe and was “undertaken privately,” it said.
The connection besides said the 2 different victims — pupil Sommacal and caller postgraduate Gualtieri — were not progressive successful the technological mission.
Cave diving is simply a highly method and unsafe enactment that requires specialised training, instrumentality and strict information protocols. Risks summation sharply successful environments wherever divers cannot caput consecutive up and astatine depth, peculiarly erstwhile conditions are poor.
Mr. Shareef said Benedetti's assemblage was recovered adjacent the rima of the cave and authorities believed the remaining 4 had entered the cave.
Two Italians, a deep-sea rescue adept and a cave diving expert, are expected to articulation the betterment effort, Mr. Shareef said.
Italian officials said that astir 20 different Italians connected the aforesaid expedition aboard the vas “Duke of York” were safe. Italy's embassy successful Colombo was providing assistance to those onboard and had contacted the Red Crescent, which offered to deploy volunteers to assistance supply intelligence aid.
The Maldives Tourism Ministry said it has suspended the operating licence of the “Duke of York” pending an investigation.
The Italian Foreign Ministry said the cave is divided into 3 ample chambers connected by constrictive passages. Recovery teams explored 2 of the 3 chambers connected Friday (May 15, 2026), but the hunt was constricted owed to considerations implicit oxygen and decompression.
On Saturday (May 16,2026), they volition research the 3rd chamber, the Ministry added. Italian officials and the Honorary Consul are successful interaction with the victims' families to supply assistance.
