Lauge Risom Koch 
The bodies of four missing Italian divers have been found deep inside an underwater cave in the Maldives following a fatal diving expedition.
The bodies of four Italian divers who disappeared during a scientific diving expedition in the Maldives have been located deep inside an underwater cave.
The discovery comes days after another member of the group and a Maldivian rescue diver also lost their lives.
Deep-water discovery
According to the BBC, the four divers were found inside a 60 metres deep cave in Vaavu Atoll.
The bodies were located by a joint team of Finnish and Maldivian divers following several days of search operations.
Officials said the divers were discovered in the deepest section of the cave, farthest from the entrance.
Recovery operations are expected to continue over several days due to the depth and conditions inside the cave system.
Research mission
Four of the victims were linked to the University of Genoa, including Professor Monica Montefalcone, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal and researchers Muriel Oddenino and Federico Gualtieri.
The fifth Italian victim was diving instructor and boat operations manager Gianluca Benedetti.
According to the BBC, the group disappeared after entering the water on Thursday morning during a research expedition focused on coral studies.
Authorities said rough weather conditions had been reported in the area at the time of the accident.
Permit questions
Maldivian officials said the group had obtained permits for scientific dives reaching depths of up to 50 metres.
However, spokesperson Mohamed Hossain Shareef told the BBC that the research proposal did not mention the underwater cave where the divers were later found.
The entrance to the cave is reportedly located around 47 metres below the surface.
Questions have also emerged over whether all members of the group were officially listed as researchers under the expedition permit.
Rescue tragedy
The search operation also claimed the life of Maldivian rescue diver Staff Sgt Mohamed Mahdhee.
According to BBC reporting, Mahdhee disappeared during a search dive on Saturday while working with a team of eight rescuers.
Other divers later found him unconscious underwater after realising he had not resurfaced.
Authorities in the Maldives are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident.
Sources: BBC
