Five people trapped in Slovenia as rainfall floods cave

Five people trapped in Slovenia as rainfall floods cave

/ 07:05 AM January 08, 2024

Rescue operation to reach five people trapped in the cave after heavy rainfall, in Bloska Polica

Rescuers walk as they take part in a rescue operation to reach five people trapped in the cave after heavy rainfall, in Bloska Polica, Slovenia, January 6, 2024. Cave Rescue Service of Slovenia /Handout via REUTERS

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — Five people have been trapped in a cave in central Slovenia since Saturday after heavy rains caused flooding, rescue workers told a news conference on Sunday.

A family of three adults with two guides had on Saturday morning begun a tourist visit to the Krizna Jama (Cross Cave), some 50 kilometers south of the capital Ljubljana.

Article continues after this advertisement

The group became trapped on an dry platform after heavy rainfall provoked a steep rise in the water levels within the cave, known for its underground lakes.

FEATURED STORIES

A rescue operation was launched after they failed to emerge from cave as scheduled.

Cave divers located them late on Saturday some two kilometers from the entrance to the eight-kilometer-long cave.

Article continues after this advertisement

“All five are in stable condition,” civil protection authorities said in a statement adding that rescue teams had delivered them overnight a tent, warm clothes, food and medicines.

Article continues after this advertisement

“If the water level drops, the rescue could be carried out swiftly,” the head of the cave rescue team Walter Zakrajsek told journalists adding that, if the cave tunnels remain flooded, teams of cave divers will be making the three-hour-long trip to provide them with all they need every 12 hours.

Slovenia is known for its over 14,000 caves, some of them are visited by large groups of tourists traveling on underground trains, while others, like the Krizna cave, can be visited only by small groups using small boats.

RELATED STORIES

Chilean miner trapped in cave for 69 days tells Thai boys: ‘Hang in there’

‘Like brothers’: Rescued Indian tunnel workers stayed hopeful through ordeal

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: cave, floods, Slovenia, world news

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.