Seven saved after 22 hours trapped in French cave
The Local - [email protected]
Published: 10 Feb, 2016 CET.
Updated: Wed 10 Feb 2016 14:06 CET
Seven Spanish cavers were saved from an underground chasm in the foothills of the French Pyrenees mountains after rising flood waters blocked their exit.
The seven were part of a group of 15 cavers who went potholing on Tuesday near the town of Herran, Haute Garonne, which is not far from the Spanish border (see map below).
It is believed their exit was blocked by rising flood waters caused by the violent storms that hit the region in recent days.
Eight of the group were able to make it out at around 4am on Wednesday morning and raise the alarm.
Later in the day, after spending 22 hours stuck 300 metres underground, the six men and one woman were pulled to safety.
The group had been caught out by the rapid rise of water in the cave after large amounts of ice and snow melted, officials told AFP.
All of the potholers are aged between 30 and 50.
DERNIÈRE MINUTE - 7 spéléologues espagnols bloqués dans un gouffre à Herran près d'Aspet #HauteGaronne pic.twitter.com/R791tCvAGe
— France Bleu Toulouse (@Bleu_Toulouse) February 10, 2016
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The seven were part of a group of 15 cavers who went potholing on Tuesday near the town of Herran, Haute Garonne, which is not far from the Spanish border (see map below).
It is believed their exit was blocked by rising flood waters caused by the violent storms that hit the region in recent days.
Eight of the group were able to make it out at around 4am on Wednesday morning and raise the alarm.
Later in the day, after spending 22 hours stuck 300 metres underground, the six men and one woman were pulled to safety.
The group had been caught out by the rapid rise of water in the cave after large amounts of ice and snow melted, officials told AFP.
All of the potholers are aged between 30 and 50.
DERNIÈRE MINUTE - 7 spéléologues espagnols bloqués dans un gouffre à Herran près d'Aspet #HauteGaronne pic.twitter.com/R791tCvAGe
— France Bleu Toulouse (@Bleu_Toulouse) February 10, 2016
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