Landslide in cave in Sardinia, speleologist blocked: rescue operations underway

A speleologist is stuck ten meters underground due to a landslide that blocked the entrance to a cave in Sardinia.

The operations of the specialists of the national alpine and speleological rescue corps and of the firefighters continued throughout the night and will continue unabated to save the man, a 31-year-old resident in the Sassari area, who has been trapped underground in the Gorropeddu cave, in Urzulei, in Ogliastra, for the past 16 hours.

The speleologist was in the company of other hikers when he was stuck inside the collapsed cave and it was the same companions who raised the alarm.

Coordination command set up

The rescuers managed to make verbal contact with the speleologist who responded: according to the information the man is alive and conscious.

Dozens of specialists from the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps and the firefighters are operating on site, with the team from the Tortolì Fire Brigade detachment, the Alpine River Speleo teams (SAF) of the Nuoro command and 16 USAR Medium units transported to Gorropeddu by the Decimomannu Air Force.

An advanced command post has also been set up nearby for the coordination of operations.

Also present in support were CNSAS operators and various Dorgali Civil Protection units.