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Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the dead included an associate professor of Ecology at the University of Genoa, and her daughter. The others were a marine biologist, a researcher and a diving instructor.
Your morning catch-up: Boyan Slat has a plan to rid the ocean of plastic pollution, this coming El Niño could be a monster and more big storiesFive Italian marine researchers, including a University of Genoa ecology professor and her daughter, died Thursday in a scuba accident at a 50-meter-deep underwater cave in the Maldives.
Authorities recovered one body and launched a high-risk search Friday for four others trapped in the cave; the extreme depth and rough weather conditions are severely hampering recovery efforts. Italian and Maldivian officials are coordinating international assistance to recover the remaining bodies while providing psychological support to about 20 other Italians stranded aboard a research vessel awaiting safer seas.
Maldivian authorities conducted a high-risk search Friday for the bodies of four Italian divers who died in a scuba accident in a deep underwater cave a day before. The body of a fifth diver was recovered Thursday, local officials said. Italy’s Foreign Ministry said the group “apparently died while attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 meters ” in the Vaavu Atoll on Thursday. It said that the cause of the deaths remains under investigation.
Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said in a statement the dead included Monica Montefalcone, an associate professor of Ecology at the University of Genoa, and her daughter Giorgia. The others were marine biologist Federico Gualtieri, researcher Muriel Oddenino and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti. The five divers were believed to have been exploring the cave when they went missing, according to Maldivian presidential spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef.
Advertisement Rescuers recovered one body from about 200 feet below the surface Thursday, while the remaining four divers were believed to be inside the cave, officials said. The group had been on a morning dive near Alimathaa and was reported missing after failing to surface by midday Thursday, with weather conditions described as unfavorable at the time. Search teams were preparing a second dive Friday to assess access to the cave, though rough weather could delay operations.
The Italian Foreign Ministry said an Italian expert was assisting Maldivian coast guard crews, and Italy’s ambassador was on a search vessel as local authorities considered whether to seek international assistance. The Italian ministry said about 20 other Italians who had been on the same expedition aboard a vessel named the Duke of York were safe, with no injuries reported.
Italy’s embassy in Colombo was providing assistance to those onboard and had contacted the Red Crescent, which offered to deploy volunteers to help provide psychological aid. The vessel was searching for safe harbor from poor weather conditions, and was waiting for conditions to improve before returning to Male, the ministry said.
The ministry added it was also coordinating with Divers Alert Network, a specialist diving insurance group that could support recovery operations with technical expertise and assist with the repatriation of the bodies. Italian officials and the honorary consul remained in contact with the victims’ families to provide assistance. Sharuhan and Zampano write for the Associated Press. Zampano reported from Rome.
AP writers Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi and Krishan Francis in Colombo contributed to this report. Rebuilding L.A. : Recovery, From The People’s Perspective: ‘It’s About To Get A Lot Worse’ About 2 in 3 fire survivors are still displaced and, as coverage for temporary housing disappears, that number could get increase. In 2012, the judge presiding over Orange County’s worst mass-shooter case gave a seemingly simple order.
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Authorities search waters in the Maldives for 4 Italians killed in a cave dive after 1 body foundMaldivian authorities are conducting a high-risk search for four Italian divers who died in a scuba accident in a deep underwater cave.
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Maldives authorities search for bodies of 4 Italians killed in cave dive after 1 body foundMaldivian authorities conducted a high-risk search Friday for the bodies of four Italian divers who died in a scuba accident in a deep underwater cave a day before.
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