Rescuers freed five trapped cavers in Moravian Karst

Firefighters spent around four hours rescuing five amateur cavers trapped underground in the Moravian Karst near Brno after they became stranded behind an area with dangerously high carbon dioxide levels. The group was about 100 metres from an exit and none was injured, but rescuers had to use breathing equipment to get them through the hazardous section. Medical teams checked the cavers afterwards for oxygen saturation, but all were reported to be in good condition. Emergency officials said elevated carbon dioxide can occur naturally in some caves, especially during warmer weather.