Milan, Dec 16 (AP) A major rescue operation was underway Monday in a cave northeast of the Italian city of Bergamo to free a woman who was injured in a fall and became trapped while exploring with eight other people.

Ottavia Piana, 32, remained blocked deep inside the Bueno Fonteno cave, where the temperatures were ranging from 7 degrees Celsius to 8 degrees Celsius in high humidity.

Also Read | German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Loses Confidence Vote in Parliament, Early Election To Be Held in February 2025.

Piana, considered an expert cave explorer, was injured after falling some 5 metres Saturday evening during an expedition to map a kilometre of an uncharted branch of the cave, but rescuers said she is alert and responsive.

She suffered multiple traumas, including to the face, ribs and knee, rescuers said.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Accepts President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's Invitation To Visit Sri Lanka, Dates To Be Confirmed Later: MEA.

Members of her team reported her missing after reaching the surface Saturday evening, and rescuers reached her late Sunday. They are using small explosives in an attempt to breach the last 100 metres to reach her.

A spokesman for rescue operation, Mauro Guiducci, said it was impossible to foresee how long it would take to free Piana.

“One thing is certain, these kinds of operations are very long," Guiducci said, adding that a team of 20 technicians were operating inside the cave and dozens more were assisting above ground. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)