Photos: Rescuers evacuate five from flooded Slovenian cave

A rescue was launched on Saturday after they failed to emerge as scheduled

Last updated: January 09, 2024 | 11:35

Compiled by Nathaniel Lacsina, Senior Web Editor and with inputs from AFP

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Grahovo: Slovenian rescuers and divers on Monday evacuated five people stranded in a flooded cave since the weekend.

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After water levels dropped in the eight-kilometre-long (five-mile-long-) cave in central Slovenia, rescuers managed to evacuate the trapped family of three and their two guides.

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"All five are healthy and happy," Slovenia's Cave Rescue Association chief Walter Zakrajsek told journalists after an operation that involved around 90 rescuers, divers and civil protection agents.

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The five had on Saturday morning begun a visit of the Krizna Jama (Cross Cave) - some 50 kilometres south of the capital Ljubljana - known for its underground lakes.

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The group was trapped on a dry platform after heavy rainfall flooded the cave and blocked two of its sumps.

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A rescue was launched on Saturday after they failed to emerge as scheduled, with divers locating them later that day some two kilometres from the cave entrance.

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With equipment and food provided by the rescuers, the five spent the nights taking turns to sleep in a three-person tent, said one of the rescuers.

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The entrance of Krizna Cave. This was the first time that people visiting the Krizna Cave had been trapped. Slovenia is known for its over 14,000 caves.

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