After heavy rain, five papped in the Slovenia cave

Five individuals found themselves stranded in a cave in southwestern Slovenia since Saturday afternoon due to rising water levels caused by heavy rainfall. This has rendered rescue operations unsafe, as reported by local media on Sunday.

The trapped group, consisting of a family of three and two tourist guides, has sought refuge in a secure location within the 8.2-kilometer-long Krizna Jama cave, accessible only by boat.

On Saturday evening, rescuers were able to briefly reach the stranded individuals, delivering essential supplies such as food, water, and a heated tent, according to civil protection officials in the area who briefed journalists on Sunday.

However, given that the group is situated over two kilometers away from the cave entrance, a new team of divers will require three to four hours to reach them. Officials noted that the success of the final rescue hinges on when the water levels recede, as reported by the STA news agency.

The anticipated timeframe for the water levels to drop may extend into Sunday overnight, but there's also a possibility that it could take a couple of days.

Križna Jama, known for its chain of underground lakes with emerald green water, stands as the fourth largest recognized cave ecosystem globally in terms of biodiversity.