Remains of Four Italian Divers Repatriated from Maldives Cave

The remains of four Italian divers who died inside an underwater cave in the Maldives were repatriated early Saturday, a Maldivian government spokesperson said. Five Italian divers went missing on May 14 while exploring a cave about 160 feet underwater in Vaavu Atoll.

Their Italian diving instructor's body was recovered outside the cave and returned home at the time. A recovery operation faced setbacks after a Maldivian military diver, Mohamed Mahudhee, was killed during the effort. Three Finnish deep-cave divers later located the four bodies in the cave's innermost chamber at a depth of around 200 feet.

The victims were identified as Monica Montefalcone, an associate professor of ecology at the University of Genoa; her daughter Giorgia Sommacal; marine biologist Federico Gualtieri; researcher Muriel Oddenino; and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti.

Maldives President's Spokesman Mohamed Hussain Shareef said two investigations were opened: one into the deaths of the five divers and another into Mahudhee's death while on duty. Shareef added that Italy agreed to share autopsy findings if performed.

" Italy's La Repubblica reported the group was located inside a dead-end chamber. The CEO of DAN Europe, the Finnish group that recovered the remains, told AFP the divers "may have got lost" and had limited air supply, leaving little time to find an exit.