Five Italians Die in Scuba Diving Accident in Maldives' Vaavu Atoll

Five Italians died in a scuba diving accident in the Maldives, Italy's foreign ministry said Thursday. Security forces in the Indian Ocean archipelago recovered one body.

The chain of coral islands draws divers to its luxury resorts and liveaboard boats.

"Following an accident that occurred during a scuba diving trip, five Italian nationals have died in Vaavu Atoll, in the Maldives," Rome's foreign ministry said in a statement. "The divers are believed to have died while attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 meters."

The University of Genoa said the victims included marine biology professor Monica Montefalcone, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, and researchers Muriel Oddenino and Federico Gualtieri.

The group failed to return from a deep cave-diving trip in Vaavu Atoll, south of the capital, Male.

Local officials called it the worst single diving accident in the nation of 1,192 tiny coral islands scattered 500 miles across the equator in the Indian Ocean.

Aircraft and speedboats joined a major search after the five went missing Thursday afternoon, the Maldives National Defence Force said in a statement. "One body has been found among five divers who went diving in Vaavu Atoll," the statement said.

The force released a map of the search area. "The body was found inside a cave. It is believed that the remaining four divers are also inside the same cave, which extends to a depth of about 60 meters (200 feet)."

Police noted rough weather in Vaavu Atoll Thursday, with a yellow warning for passenger boats and fishermen.

The MNDF said a coastguard vessel coordinated the overnight search. Additional coastguard divers headed to the area.

Italy's foreign ministry said an Italian expert assisted the coast guard and Maldivian vessels Friday. Officials planned a dive to assess access to the underwater cave in Vaavu Atoll, but rough weather could delay recovery.

The ministry said Italy's ambassador to Colombo, which handles Maldives relations, traveled to Male to meet coast guard officials. The Italian Embassy contacted the victims' families and offered assistance.

Diving and water-sport accidents remain rare in the South Asian nation, though several fatal cases have occurred recently. A British woman tourist died diving in December; her 71-year-old husband fell ill and died days later. A 26-year-old Japanese tourist vanished after a dive near the capital in June.

Local media reported at least 112 tourists died in marine incidents over the past six years, including 42 in diving or snorkeling accidents.