Six people were trapped about 60 meters deep in the caves of the grand canyon since Sunday (23) in Peach Springs, Arizona, in the United States, officials said, adding that the group was rescued hours later.
The group, which includes a family of four with two young children and a second couple, was stranded at the tourist site after an elevator failed, according to Seligman Fire Chief Gary Bennett.
“Yesterday, people were leaving the caves when the elevator stopped working. Believing it to be an electrical problem, a generator was brought in. It’s not an electrical problem. It’s a mechanical problem,” Paxton told CNN .
Firefighters from the Seligman Fire District were able to help the family of four climb the approximately 21 flights of stairs to the surface between 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm Sunday night.
The second couple took longer to be rescued. According to Bennett, the husband of the second couple was also able to climb the stairs to the surface, but decided to return to the cave to stay with his wife until the elevator was back up and running.
The couple returned to the surface this Monday (24) after repairing the elevator.
Douglas Grashel and his stepdaughter Sherry Jimenez told CNN on Tuesday night (25) who were trapped underground for more than 30 hours before being able to leave the site.
Authorities originally said five people were trapped in the caves.
“The hotel that is located in the cave hosted people in a hotel, and there is a small restaurant in the back, and the hotel is working to make people as comfortable as possible while they are down there.”
There are approximately 21 flights of stairs leading to the bottom with platforms and stairs, Paxton said. However, some of the arrested people do not have the physical ability to climb the stairs.
“We have a search and rescue team on standby, as well as a hoisting apparatus to pull people out if repairs take longer than expected or if people don’t feel comfortable staying down there,” Paxton said.
The Grand Canyon Caverns is a tourist attraction that allows visitors to wander inside an ancient underground cave, dine and stay at a hotel, according to its website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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