23 People Rescued After Entrapment in Hidden River Cave in Kentucky

Andrew Simontacchi

May 26, 2016Updated: May 26, 2016

UPDATE 5:39 p.m.: Several sources have confirmed, via local police scanner, that the original 21 trapped visitors and the two responding officers who became trapped, have been rescued and are safe.

Rescued cavers gather at dr. Thomas house next to cave pic.twitter.com/YBFVSzIdsV

— Daily News Photo (@bgdnphoto) May 26, 2016

Twenty-one people were originally trapped in Hidden River Cave, an attraction below ground in Horse Cave, Kentucky—but after four of them were freed, two of the responding Horse Cave police officers became trapped themselves.

Hart County Ambulance, according to WBKO who first reported the trapping, said in an attempt to rescue the remaining 17 visitors, the two officers became trapped.

Hart Co Emergency Management tells me that there are 17 people and 2 Horse Cave Police officers trapped in Hidden River Cave

— Jacqueline Nie (@JacquelineWBKO) May 26, 2016

Reuters reports that a plan is in place to have the trapped visitors and policemen move to a safer passageway until the water levels become lower, which have quickly risen due to a recent flash flood from heavy rainfall.

Confirmed by EMA atleast 17 people trapped in hidden River cave in horse cave. Water expected to keep rising. Not able to get to them yet

— Rose Rementer (@RoseWnky) May 26, 2016

Climate monitoring network, The Kentucky Mesonet told a Bowling Green Daily News reporter that more than 2 inches of rain had fallen since midnight.