Five Italian tourists have died during an underwater diving trip in the Maldives.
According to Maldivian police, staff on the boat alerted authorities to the divers’ disappearance about 1.45pm local time, more than an hour after they were expected to resurface, Italian newspaper Il Messaggero reported.
The group were diving to depths of about 50-60m in the Vaavu Atoll when they went missing. One body was recovered around 6.15pm, while four remained missing.
The Maldives’ military said the body was found in an underwater cave – it’s believed the other four bodies are also there, the BBC reported.
Local authorities said this was the worst single diving accident to happen in the Maldives and have launched an investigation.
Two of the victims were mother and daughter. Monica Montefalcone, 51, was a marine biologist, television personality, and professor of tropical marine ecology and underwater science at the University of Genoa. She was travelling with her 20-year-old daughter, Giorgia Sommacal, who also died, Il Messaggero reported.
The other three victims have been named as Muriel Oddenino, Gianluca Benedetti and Federico Gualtieri. Montefalcone and Oddenino were colleagues at the University of Genoa.
Respiratory expert Claudio Micheletto said the sudden deaths of multiple divers may have been caused by oxygen toxicity, a condition triggered by breathing oxygen at high pressure for a prolonged period, which can damage tissue and compromise the central nervous system, Il Messaggero reported.
The cause had not been confirmed by authorities. Weather conditions may also have complicated operations – a yellow alert was in effect in the dive area, issued by the Maldives Meteorological Service, because of rough seas and worsening weather.
The tourists were sailing on the Duke of York, a luxury ship built in 2010, designed to transport passengers to scuba diving destinations across the Maldives. The ship has 11 luxury cabins across three decks, accommodating up to 21 guests, each paying just over €2000 ($3959) for a week-long cruise, reported the Daily Mail.
Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the incident.
“Following an accident during a scuba dive, five Italians died in the Vaavu atoll, in the Maldives,” a statement read.
Italian authorities said they have been “contacting the victims’ families to provide any necessary consular assistance”, reported the Daily Mail.