Missing Divers Found Far From Cave Mouth

Five days after the deadliest single diving incident ever in the Maldives, officials say they've found the last of five Italian victims—still deep inside an underwater cave. Authorities confirm four Italian nationals were located in the farthest section of a 197-foot-deep cave in Vaavu Atoll, a popular dive area about 62 miles south of the capital, Male, per the BBC. It's unclear if they were spotted by divers or underwater drones, per NBC News. The four were part of a University of Genoa team studying coral: professor Monica Montefalcone, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, and researchers Muriel Oddenino and Federico Gualtieri.

A fifth victim, diving instructor and boat operations manager Gianluca Benedetti, was found near the cave entrance soon after Thursday's dive, with his body recovered. A Maldivian rescue diver, Staff Sgt. Mohamed Mahdhee, also died at a hospital after taking part in search efforts on Saturday. Officials say the four remaining bodies will be recovered over Tuesday and Wednesday, per the BBC; the deaths are under investigation. Recreational diving in the Maldives is limited to a depth of 98 feet, and the government says the team's approved research plan did not mention the cave located at twice that depth.