Five Italian citizens tragically lost their lives during a scuba diving expedition in the Maldives. The incident took place in Vaavu Atoll as the group ventured into underwater caves approximately 165 feet deep. Italy’s foreign ministry confirmed the event on Thursday but did not disclose the victims’ identities or the specific cause of the tragedy.
According to reports from Maldivian media outlet The Edition, the victims, who were tourists, were on the Duke of York liveaboard diving vessel. They disappeared during a dive near Alimathaa after entering the water in the morning and failing to resurface by midday, prompting the crew to report them missing.
Weather conditions at the dive site were said to be unfavorable at the time of the accident. Maldivian authorities have initiated an investigation, with support from the Italian Embassy in Sri Lanka, which is assisting the families of the deceased. One of the victims is believed to be a researcher from Genoa, as per information from Il Sole 24 Ore.