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Speleologist Trapped 10 Meters Underground After Cave Roof Collapse in Sardinia

A young speleologist has been stuck about ten metres deep in a cave near Urzulei, Sardinia, after the roof gave way, and rescue teams are still working to free him.

In the early afternoon a cave roof collapsed in the Urzulei sector of Sardinia's Ogliastra region, trapping a young speleologist roughly ten metres below the surface. The individual remains awake and responsive, but his name and age have not been released. The entrance is clogged with loose rock and the surrounding material is friable, forcing rescuers to proceed with extreme caution as they manually clear the blockage.

An advanced command centre now coordinates the effort, drawing on the Tortolì fire brigade, the provincial alpine-river speleology unit from Nuoro, and sixteen USAR Medium teams delivered by a Decimomannu military helicopter. Additional support includes alpine rescue squads, medical staff from the 118 emergency service, and specialist doctors. Regional authorities have also called for extra technicians from central Italy and other parts of Sardinia, while the provincial fire commander Salvatore Corrao continues to oversee operations that extend to nearby Gorropeddu.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the risks of cave exploration and the complexity of mountain rescue operations in Sardinia.

In this story

cave collapsespeleologist trappedSardinia rescuefire brigadehelicopter supportfragile rock
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