Preliminary autopsy results from Italy have indicated that the victims of the fatal Maldives cave diving tragedy likely died from drowning or acute oxygen deprivation, as investigations into the incident continue.

The post-mortem examinations were ordered by the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office and carried out at Gallarate Hospital on May 26. 

The examinations involved the bodies of Monica Montefalcone, a marine biology lecturer associated with the University of Genoa and her daughter Giorgia Sommacal. 

An earlier autopsy had already been conducted on diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti.

Italian authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the incident on allegations of manslaughter through negligence. 

Investigators have also seized mobile phones and electronic devices belonging to the victims for forensic examination. 

The devices were reportedly transported back to Italy by Professor Stefano Venin, who had been travelling with the group.

The tragedy unfolded on June 14 after five Italian tourists went missing during a scuba diving excursion near Dhekunu Kandu, an underwater cave system located close to V. Alimatha in the Maldives. 

The group had travelled aboard the yacht “Duke of York.”

The victims were identified as Monica Montefalcone, 51, her 23-year-old daughter Giorgia Sommacal, Muriel Oddenino, 31, Federico Gualtieri, and Gianluca Benedetti, 44, who served as the diving instructor and operations manager for the excursion.

The incident also claimed the life of Maldives National Defence Force Sergeant First Class Mohamed Mahudhee, who died while participating in recovery operations to retrieve the bodies of the missing divers.

According to reports from Italian media, a full forensic report confirming the definitive causes of death is expected to take several weeks.

Attention had also turned to the conditions of the dive itself. 

Finnish rescuer Sami Paakkarinen, who joined the recovery mission through the Dan Europe foundation, indicated that the divers may have entered areas requiring specialised cave-diving equipment beyond what is typically used for recreational diving in the Maldives.

Paakkarinen has also reportedly expressed plans to return to the Maldives to assist in properly mapping the cave system in hopes of improving future diving safety and preventing similar incidents.