Maldives' Worst Ever Diving Accident: Italian Professor and 4 Others Die in Deep Sea Cave
In what is believed to be the Maldives' worst single diving accident, five Italian divers, including a professor from the University of Genoa, her daughter, and two researchers, have died. They failed to surface after a dive in a deep-water cave. The bodies of the final four victims have been located but not yet recovered. A rescue diver also died during the search operation.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 18, 2026 at 21:48
- 🔍 Collected: May 18, 2026 at 22:01 (13 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 18, 2026 at 22:05 (3 min after Collected)
Central Message (CNA Rome, 18th, comprehensive foreign report) The Italian Foreign Ministry and the Maldivian military stated today that the bodies of the last four of five Italian divers who drowned in a deep-sea cave accident in the Maldives have been found, but have not yet been brought to the surface. Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) issued a statement indicating that a joint search and recovery operation had located the bodies of the four missing divers in a cave in the Vaavu Atoll. The Italian Foreign Ministry has confirmed this information. According to reports, the bodies have not yet been brought to the surface, and the MNDF indicated that more dives will be conducted in the coming days to complete the body recovery operation. Five Italians failed to surface after diving in a deep-water cave on the 14th; the body of one was found later that day. Subsequently, a rescue diver involved in the search and rescue operation died on the 16th. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported that four of the divers were members of a team from the University of Genoa in Italy, including Professor Monica Montefalcone, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, and two researchers, Muriel Oddenino and Federico Gualtieri. The Maldives, a small nation in the Indian Ocean, is a popular tourist destination due to its series of coral islands. This incident is believed to be the country's most serious single diving accident. (Translation: Chen Cheng-chien) 1150518 Stand with facts; every donation you make is a force for protecting press freedom. Download the CNA "First-Hand News" APP to get the latest news in real-time. The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.