Two Russian Divers Killed in Shark Attack off Verde Island, Philippines

On February 27, two Russian divers, Ilia Peregudin, 29, and Maksim Melekhov, 39, tragically lost their lives during a diving expedition near Verde Island in the Philippines. The pair were separated from their group due to strong undercurrents and were subsequently attacked by sharks, marking the first recorded shark attack in the area in over a year. Peregudin was found unconscious and later pronounced dead at a local hospital, while Melekhov was discovered with severe injuries, including the loss of an arm, amidst the shark attack. Rescue operations were complicated by the presence of circling sharks, which delayed the recovery of Melekhov's body. Local authorities are now reassessing safety protocols for divers to prevent future incidents. An investigation is ongoing to fully understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy.