Trapped tourists in the Krizna Jama cave in southern Slovenia were successfully rescued and extracted on Monday. A family of three adults and two guides were trapped in the cave since Saturday due to heavy rains.
The water level rise due to heavy rains left them trapped and also hampered the rescue effort. According to Walter Zakrajsek, the head of the Cave Rescue Service, the rescue operation was possible only after water levels receded.
The operation was completed around mid-afternoon following hours long rescue operation by a six-member team of divers, he told STA news agency.
The eight-kilometre cave system with a string of emerald-coloured underground lakes is accessible only in boats and rafts and with a guide.
Earlier, the team of divers had said that they had reached the tourists trapped and provided them with food and essentials. The tourists were located in a dry area about two kilometres inside the cave. A small boat was brought in to bring out the trapped tourists.
Rescuers earlier said that all five people were doing well despite spending two nights inside the cave.
Krizna Jama is the fourth-biggest known underground ecosystem in the world.
The water temperature inside the cave was 6C (42 F) with very low visibility.
