Three youths were rescued Wednesday afternoon after becoming lost in an underground lava tunnel system in Mendig, in Germany's Eifel region. The group placed an emergency call from a depth of 32 metres beneath the surface.
Firefighters, police, and emergency medical services were assisted by an expert from the Environment Ministry during the operation. The teenagers, who are from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, were found suffering from mild hypothermia, as temperatures inside the tunnels hold steady at around seven degrees Celsius.
All three were brought safely to the surface. Criminal complaints were filed against the youths in connection with the incident. The lava tunnels near Mendig are a well-known geological feature of the volcanic Eifel landscape, with sections open to visitors, though unauthorised exploration of closed areas poses significant risks.