27 hikers rescued after being trapped in Austrian cave for hours

VIENNA – Twenty-six hikers in western Austria have been rescued after being trapped for hours in a cave by a flash flood.

Rescue officials said the hikers were cut off from the outside world early Wednesday when heavy rain caused water to flood the entrance to the cave near St. Martin, a town about 200 miles west of Vienna.

Rescue official Gernot Salzmann said emergency crews were in constant voice contact with the group during its ordeal. All the hikers were reported safe and uninjured after the floodwaters receded and they were able to leave the cave Wednesday afternoon.

Austrian officials initially said 27 people were trapped but later reduced that number to 26.