Five people were stranded in a cave in Slovenia after sudden flooding caused by heavy rain on Saturday, the Associated Press reported.
A large-scale rescue operation is currently underway to get the three families and two guides out of the cave. according to To AP. Slovenian emergency services were called into action after rising water trapped the group during a guided tour of the eight-kilometre cave system, famous for its network of underground lakes. The group was strolling through the cave early Saturday morning when they were cut off from the exit.
Rescue divers safely reached the trapped group and escorted them to a designated safe area within the cave, according to the Associated Press. Heated shelters have been set up as shelters while waiting for water levels to drop. Igor Benko, head of the Slovenian Speleological Society, confirmed that all five people were in good health. (Related: Road tunnel collapses in India landslide, trapping more than 30 workers)
Five people have been trapped in a cave in Slovenia since Saturday afternoon as heavy rains caused water levels to rise, authorities said.
Officials said the group could not be rescued until the water level in the Krizna Jama cave receded.
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Access to local caves is limited to boat travel along local rivers, the Associated Press noted. The cave is a popular tourist spot, offering a unique glimpse into the rich underground ecosystem, but is only available on strictly guided tours.
In a statement to the STA news agency, Benko expressed optimism that groundwater levels would begin to fall soon. However, he warned that it could be several days before the group can safely leave, according to the Associated Press.
The rescue operation brought together 35 cave rescue workers and eight divers from all over Slovenia, the paper added. Their efforts are powered by the support of 11 firefighters and members of the Civil Protection Force.
