Eight men are trapped in the H?lloch cave network in Switzerland?s Muotathal valley since January 21 can only be rescued this weekend at the earliest due to heavy rainfall. They are unhurt and are currently stuck in a water-tight bivouac.

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-spelunking-_eight-trapped-in-western-europe-s-longest-cave-/43842056

It is interesting that rescuers have apparently reached the "trapped" cavers, but apparently the route out is too dangerous to lead them through. 

Divers?

ali_mac said:

It is interesting that rescuers have apparently reached the "trapped" cavers, but apparently the route out is too dangerous to lead them through.

Click to expand...

According to the German-language article I read a couple of days ago, it's a tour group with a guide, so I reckon the most likely scenario is that they don't all have the skills to deal with e.g. very wet pitches - wouldn't fancy getting strung up on a rebelay under a waterfall!

I've been flooded into a cave before (thankfully only nine hours rather than a week!) and people were able to establish a vocal connection and get supplies to us although they couldn't physically reach us themselves - could potentially be something along those lines here too.

Or as Topimo says, maybe divers.

EDIT: I had another look at a Swiss news site and it says lots of wet pitches, then also a passage at -300m has sumped; rescuers able to get through but too technical for the tour group.

Caving Pig, Thank you, that certainly makes sense.

Ali.

They are all out now: http://www.dw.com/en/switzerland-cave-tourists-emerge-after-long-unplanned-stay/a-42317483