Five Italians die during cave dive in Maldives

What Happened

Five Italians a scuba diving accident in the Maldives, the foreign ministry .

"The divers are believed attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 metres (164ft)," the ministry said, adding that this happened .

The Maldives' military a cave about 60 metres underwater, divers were believed .

It said divers with special equipment , describing a search operation as a .

The incident is believed single diving accident Indian Ocean nation, a popular tourist destination because of its string of coral islands.

The five Italians entered Thursday morning, local media reported.

diving vessel they were travelling on reported them missing when they failed to resurface later on.

Police said the weather , about 100km (62 miles) capital Malé. A yellow warning was issued for passenger boats and fishermen.

The University victims included a marine biology professor, her daughter researchers.

In a statement on X, the university expressed its "deepest condolences" to the victims.

Diving and snorkelling accidents are relatively Maldives, although several fatalities have been reported in recent years.

Last December, an experienced British female diver drowned in a scuba incident off the island resort of Ellaidhoo. Her husband falling ill.

In 2024, a Japanese lawmaker died while snorkelling in Lhaviyani Atoll.