Italy is confronting a period of national grief after two separate tragedies — a deadly cave-diving disaster in the Maldives and a car-ramming incident in Modena — left the country mourning lives lost and others fighting for survival.
As recovery teams in the Maldives struggled against severe weather conditions to retrieve the bodies of four Italian divers trapped deep inside an underwater cave system, authorities in northern Italy continued investigating a vehicle attack in Modena that injured eight people and left several victims in critical condition.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said search operations in the Maldives had been temporarily suspended because of rough seas, but stressed that every effort would continue to bring the victims home.
“Unfortunately, the searches are suspended due to bad weather, but we will do everything possible to recover the bodies of our compatriots,” Tajani said.
The five victims of the Maldives incident were identified as Monica Montefalcone, an associate ecology professor at the University of Genoa; her daughter Giorgia Sommacal; marine biologist Federico Gualtieri; researcher Muriel Oddenino; and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti.
Benedetti’s body was recovered earlier, while authorities believe the remaining four entered deeper sections of the cave system in the Vaavu Atoll during an exploration dive at around 50 metres below the surface.
The deaths remain under investigation.
Officials said the cave system consists of three large chambers connected by narrow passages, with rescue teams having so far explored two sections before oxygen and decompression limits forced them to halt operations. Additional specialist divers from Italy, including a cave-diving expert and a deep-sea rescue specialist, are expected to join the mission.
Monica Montefalcone’s husband, Carlo Sommacal, rejected suggestions of recklessness, describing his wife as an experienced diver who carefully assessed every risk.
“Something must have happened,” he said, recalling her extensive experience underwater.
He also said Montefalcone had survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami while diving off Kenya and later returned to diving despite major health complications.
Environmental groups and scientific institutions paid tribute to Montefalcone, praising her work in marine research and conservation.
The tragedy has also renewed attention on the risks associated with cave diving, one of the most technically demanding forms of diving. Experts note that overhead environments, limited visibility and extreme depth can rapidly increase danger levels. Depths beyond 40 metres are generally considered technical diving and require specialised training and equipment, while recreational diving limits in the Maldives are set at 30 metres.
Meanwhile in Italy, investigators ruled out terrorism in the Modena attack after a 31-year-old Italian man of Moroccan heritage drove into pedestrians before crashing into a shop window.
Authorities said eight people were injured, with four initially reported in critical condition.
Among the most seriously injured was a 55-year-old woman who was crushed against a shopfront and underwent leg amputations. Other victims also suffered severe injuries.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said the suspect was not believed to have acted for terrorist motives and had previously received treatment for psychological problems.
Modena mayor Massimo Mezzetti said the suspect had previously been treated in mental health facilities in 2022 for schizoid-related conditions before dropping out of care.
After the collision, the suspect allegedly attempted to flee on foot but was chased and restrained by passers-by despite reportedly producing a knife and injuring one person during the struggle.
Prosecutors have arrested the suspect on charges including massacre and causing injuries aggravated by the use of a weapon.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella visited Modena following the incident.
While some political figures used the attack to renew debates over immigration policy, local officials urged restraint.
Mezzetti called for unity, noting that among those who helped stop the suspect were members of immigrant communities.
“At the moment I see so much looting on social media and elsewhere,” he said, warning against attempts to generalise or spread division.
As Italy awaits renewed recovery operations in the Maldives and follows the condition of victims in Modena hospitals, the two events have combined to cast a shadow over the country, with families confronting loss and uncertainty on two very different fronts.
