Family among five trapped in Slovenian cave by fast-rising waters
Five people are trapped in a cave in south-western Slovenia, unable to leave because of high water levels caused by heavy rainfall.
The group - a Slovenian family group of three adults and two guides - have been stuck in the Krizna Jama cave since Saturday when water levels rose inside, blocking the way out.
Slovenian rescue teams said divers have reached the group, moved them to a safe spot envisaged for such emergencies and set up a heated shelter where they will have to wait for water levels to drop.
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Caving expert Igor Benko inspects the map of Krizna Jama cave. Pop TV via AP
All five people are fine, Igor Benko, the head of Slovenia's Speleological Association, said.
The group entered early on Saturday for a tour of the 8km cave system with its chain of underground lakes.
Visitors are allowed in only as part of guided tours.
The cave system can only be accessed by a boat along the Bloscica River that runs through it.
Benko said that subterranean water levels are expected to start falling soon but that it might take a few days for the passage to be safe again.
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The vast unground chambers of Krizna cave are popular with tour groups. krizna-jama.si
Currently, 35 cave rescuers and eight divers from all over Slovenia are involved in the rescue operation, assisted by 11 firefighters and members of the civil protection force.
Krizna Jama is the fourth biggest known underground ecosystem in the world in terms of biodiversity.
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