5 Italian tourists killed in Maldives cave diving accident as authorities search water for bodies
CBS News • • world
Key Points:
- Five Italian nationals, including a marine biology professor and three researchers, died in a scuba diving accident while exploring deep caves at Vaavu Atoll in the Maldives, according to Italy's foreign ministry and the University of Genoa.
- One body has been recovered from the cave at a depth of about 60 meters, and search efforts for the remaining four divers continue amid rough weather conditions.
- The divers were part of a group of 25 Italians on the "Duke of York" ship, with 20 others reported safe after the incident.
- The Maldives National Defence Force is coordinating the search with coastguard vessels and divers, and an Italian expert is assisting in the operation.
- Diving accidents are relatively rare but not unprecedented in the Maldives, with at least 112 marine-related tourist deaths reported over six years, including 42 from diving or snorkeling incidents.