Una delicata operazione di soccorso in corso nella grotta, tutte le persone trovate in buona salute, il comunicato ufficiale dell’European Cave Resque Organizzation
Il comunicato dei soccorritori:
Nella grotta di Križna Jama, situata a 2,1 km dall’ingresso, attualmente ci sono 5 persone intrappolate (due guide e tre turisti).
Entrate nella grotta il 6 gennaio 2024 alle 8:00, non sono tornate entro l’orario concordato (entro le 15:00).
La terza guida ha condotto una ricognizione dal 9° lago seguendo il protocollo, ma senza trovarli.
Alle 17:25 è stata attivata immediatamente la Cave Rescue Service Sloveni (CRS).
I primi soccorritori (CRS) sono giunti sul luogo alle 18:00. Sono stati attivati i centri di soccorso CRS Postojna e Ljubljana, nonché subacquei da CRS e l’Unità di Intervento Rapido dell’Amministrazione di Protezione e Soccorso Nazionale Slovena (EHI).
Anche il Quartier Generale di Protezione Civile del Comune di Cerknica è stato attivato, fornendo supporto logistico completo alle unità di soccorso durante l’intervento.
Attualmente, il supporto logistico è gestito dalla Protezione Civile Cerknica, dai Vigili del Fuoco Volontari Cerknica, dai Vigili del Fuoco Volontari Iga vas e dagli scout della squadriglia Jezerska š?uka.
Il servizio medico di emergenza è in standby. I soccorritori della CRS sono responsabili del trasporto dell’attrezzatura dall’ingresso della grotta al primo lago.
Alle 21:15, i primi due subacquei CRS sono entrati nella grotta, procedendo contro la corrente d’acqua.
Il secondo team di subacquei è entrato alle 00:33 del 7 gennaio 2024, raggiungendo le persone intrappolate alle 4:00 nella parte nota come Križna Gora.
Le persone sono state trovate in buone condizioni psicofisiche, auto-sufficienti con il cibo e le bevande presenti nella grotta.
Il secondo team di soccorritori (EHI) è arrivato il 7 gennaio alle 7:25.
Attualmente, il livello dell’acqua non consente un’evacuazione sicura.
Il piano di salvataggio prevede l’ingresso di un team di cinque subacquei con nuovi rifornimenti e tute asciutte speciali. Se il livello dell’acqua diminuisce, procederanno con l’evacuazione; altrimenti, forniranno assistenza alle persone intrappolate e lasceranno la grotta.
Il quartier generale di soccorso è in contatto costante con l’Agenzia Ambientale della Repubblica di Slovenia (ARSO) e l’Istituto di Ricerca del Carso presso l’Accademia Slovena delle Scienze e delle Arti (ZRC SAZU). Aggiornamenti sulla situazione saranno forniti su Facebook man mano che si verificano.
Il testo in lingua originale:
Cave Rescue – 5 Persons Trapped in Križna Jama
In the cave Križna Jama, located 2.1 km from the cave entrance, there are currently 5 individuals trapped (two guides and three tourists).
They entered the cave on January 6, 2024, at 8:00 AM. As they did not return by the agreed time (until 3:00 PM), the third guide, following the established protocol, conducted a reconnaissance survey from the entrance to the 9th lake.
However, he did not find the missing persons and returned to the exit. Immediately afterward, the Cave Rescue Service Sloveni (CRS) was activated at 5:25 PM.
The first rescuers (CRS) arrived at the location at 6:00 PM.
The rescue centers CRS Postojna and Ljubljana, as well as divers from CRS and the Slovenian National Protection and Rescue Administration Rapid Intervention Unit (EHI), were activated.
The Civil Protection Headquarters of the Municipality of Cerknica was also activated, providing complete logistical support to the rescue units throughout the intervention.
The logistical support is currently provided by the Civil Protection Cerknica, Volunteer Fire Department Cerknica, Volunteer Fire Department Iga vas, and scouts from the Jezerska š?uka scout troop.
The emergency medical service is on standby throughout the rescue operation. Cave rescuers from CRS are responsible for transporting equipment from the cave entrance to the first lake.
At 9:15 PM, the first two CRS divers entered the cave, swimming through the flooded section before the first lake and progressing upstream.
When they ran out of equipment to secure the path, they returned.
During this time, the second team of CRS divers was prepared, and at 12:33 AM (January 7, 2024), four CRS divers set out from the first lake into the cave.
Their task was to equip technically demanding sections of the cave for progress and transport supply equipment (bivouac, food, clothing, protective foils, and heating blankets).
The strong water current towards the cave exit posed a significant challenge.
At around 4:00 AM, they reached the missing persons at the location in the cave known as Križna Gora (approximately 2.1 km from the cave entrance).
All missing persons in the cave were found in good psychophysical condition, and they had self-supplied with the food and drinks they had in the cave.
They are currently accommodated and adequately supplied in the dry part (location in the cave called Križna Gora), where they are completely safe, even in case of rising water, and are waiting there throughout the rescue operation. After supplying, the CRS divers returned to the exit and emerged from the cave at 6:12 AM.
The second team of cave rescuers (EHI) arrived at the location on January 7 at 7:25 AM. Preparations for the team and equipment for a new dive and access to the trapped individuals are underway.
Currently, the water level in Križna Jama does not allow for a safe evacuation of the trapped persons.
High water has closed the safe passage at two locations (behind the 1st lake and behind Kalvarija).
The current rescue plan is as follows: a team of five cave divers (EHI) will enter the cave with the next supply package and special dry suits for the trapped individuals.
If the water level in the cave drops by the evening, opening currently impassable sections, they will proceed with the evacuation.
If the water is too high for a completely safe evacuation, they will provide care for the trapped individuals and return from the cave.
The rescue headquarters is in constant contact with the Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia (ARSO) and the Karst Research Institute at the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU).
They are continuously monitoring weather conditions and changes in water levels – these data are crucial for planning a safe rescue. Further updates on the progress of the rescue operation will be provided as they occur and will also be published on our Facebook page.