Family Trapped by Rising Waters in Cave in Slovenia

A family of three and two guides were trapped inside a cave in Slovenia after water levels suddenly rose due to heavy rainfall, rescue services reported on Sunday. The five individuals left on Saturday morning to explore the scenic Križna site, located about 50 kilometers south of the capital Ljubljana, before they found themselves trapped. When they did not return as expected, a team of divers set out to search for them in the evening and were able to locate them about two kilometers from the cave's entrance, which is 8 kilometers deep. Rescue personnel stated that the condition of the five adults was good. They managed to provide them with a tent, warm clothes, food, and medicine after a three-hour journey to reach them. According to team leader Walter Zakragšek, "they will be able to evacuate them quickly once the water level decreases." If the situation remains unchanged, rescuers plan to supply them with necessities every 12 hours. The Križna cave, which can be visited for its twenty-two emerald underground lakes by small boat, is one of Slovenia's major tourist attractions. Maps have been created for over 14,000 caves in this Central European country, which covers an area of just 20,300 square kilometers, although its caves form an exceptional network of corridors and deep halls.