Latest news with #caves
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Moment tourists flee for their lives as cave floods in torrential downpour - as Met Office warns half a month's rain could fall in just one hour in parts of Britain
This is the dramatic moment tourists were urgently evacuated out of a network of historic caves as water cascaded in from above during extreme flash flooding. Stairways rapidly became waterfalls at the Marble Arch Caves in Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, yesterday afternoon as guides rushed to get everyone out. Conditions had been dry when the tour began, but the power went out 15 minutes later before backup generators kicked in - and the power then went out again. Water began pouring out into the caves and the entrance became impassable - with visitors describing scenes as being like 'something out of a Hollywood movie'. Staff were praised for calmly leading everyone to safety and providing umbrellas for the group, who were then given clothes to change into once they were finally out. It comes as heavy rain continued to hit much of the UK today and the Environment Agency warned drivers could become stranded in floodwater across the country. Met Office thunderstorm warnings were issued today across much of England and Scotland - with up to 50mm (2in) of rain in just an hour, about a fortnight's worth. The ongoing wet weather could bring significant travel disruption, and flood alerts have been issued urging motorists not to drive through deep or fast-flowing water. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kim Hay (@our_emeraldhome) Meanwhile the third major hosepipe ban of summer began today, with Southern Water activating restrictions for households in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. This follows a ban from South East Water in Kent and Sussex since last Friday, and in the Yorkshire Water area since July 11. A fourth ban from Thames Water begins tomorrow in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, most of Wiltshire and parts of Berkshire. Despite three consecutive days of heavy rain, forecasters say this will do little to replenish groundwater reserves because it is running off very dry surfaces too fast to penetrate – and therefore the downpours are not enough to lift hosepipe bans. Kim Mahon Hay and her husband Alistair Hay were among the group of 17 people visiting the Marble Arch Caves, a series of natural limestone caves near Enniskillen. She told BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show: 'We had seen that it was going to be showery but we thought we'd dart in and out between things. 'We thought the caves would be perfect because if it does rain you're in the caves out of the rain. We definitely weren't expecting the rain to come down as heavy as it did.' Ms Mahon Hay explained that they were about halfway through the tour when their guide received a radio message that there was torrential rain falling above. She continued: 'Within minutes they started messaging to say the entrance in had become impassable and they were starting to send staff into the caves because the stairways then had become waterfalls. Ms Mahon Hay also hailed staff for being 'absolutely amazing in dealing with the situation', with the group given refunds and free memorabilia. Posting a video of the evacuation on Instagram, she added: 'Our tour group was in the centre of the caves at the time. The water starting pouring into the cave through the entrance and at the exit. 'Staff had to act fast and had no choice but to take us through the waterfalls of water pouring in. We were definitely not dressed for the occasion.' Ms Mahon Hay also wrote: 'At the start we laughed I think with the adrenaline but the nerves definitely kicked in when staff said they had never seen anything like this before in their 20 years working there. 'Watching the videos back it could have been a very serious situation, but thankfully everyone got out safe and well. We were all soaked through to the skin and the staff gave us all blankets, hoodies from their gift shop and hot drinks to heat us up. It will be a date Ali definitely won't forget.' Her husband added that guides 'kept everyone calm and no one felt in danger'. Mr Hay told the Belfast Telegraph: 'Water started pouring out from the holes of the caves, staff above radioed down to say that there was rain in the surface. 'We didn't think it was anything too scary of course. We went into the caves and there was a big cascade of water near the exit walkway. We took a few minutes to figure out if we should just go back or go through the waterfall. 'They brought umbrellas out to help us not to get too soaked. But the guys were fantastic, they got us through, there was a heavy flow of water, they jumped to action quickly. 'They kept everyone calm and they got us dried off and hoodies to get changed into afterwards - there was torrential rain when we got out.' He added that they intended to go back another time and said: 'It was actually quite the exciting adventure - it was like something out of a Hollywood movie.' A Fermanagh and Omagh District Council spokesperson said: 'Yesterday a flash flood occurred within the Marble Arch Caves, as a result of sudden and intense rainfall in the area and surface run off into the cave system.' 'Thanks to the swift action of our trained team, all visitors inside the cave at the time were safely guided out of the caves to the visitor centre where they were provided with warm refreshments and dry clothing. 'This was a highly unusual weather event; one that has not occurred here before. The safety of our visitors and staff remains our top priority. 'The caves remain flooded and safety checks are ongoing. Cave tours remain cancelled until further notice. Those with bookings will be contacted by a member of the Marble Arch Caves team to rearrange or provide a refund. 'We thank our visitors for their calm cooperation and our staff for their professionalism during yesterday's weather related incident. 'Cuilcagh Boardwalk is also closed for safety inspections following yesterday's weather related event.' Meanwhile the Environment Agency warned of an ongoing risk to motorists across the UK today due to the heavy rain. Chris Wilding, flood duty manager at the agency, said: 'Slow-moving heavy showers and thunderstorms mean significant surface water flooding is possible across parts of the country today. 'Environment Agency teams will be out on the ground and supporting local authorities in responding to surface water flooding. 'We urge people not to drive though flood water - it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.' The rain is set to be heavy and persistent across eastern Northern Ireland and western Scotland, while central and southern areas in the UK will see a mix of sunny spells and scattered thundery showers. The Met Office warned storms could pose a danger to life as well as damage to homes and businesses from flood water and lightning strikes, and transport delays and road closures. Temperatures will vary significantly depending on cloud cover and rainfall, remaining cool in most parts of the country, but rising to around 25C in central England. Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: 'We have a warning for rain in place for much of the day to come. Some flooding on the roads is possible. 'And it won't just be Northern Ireland. Parts of western Scotland, parts of Wales and the South West, we'll also see some rain at times through the day. South East Water activated a hosepipe ban in the grey shaded area of Kent & Sussex last Friday 'Further east, it's a different set-up entirely. A mixture of sunny spells and scattered heavy showers for Scotland, northern England, parts of the Midlands and East Anglia in the South East. 'In those sunny spells, we could see temperatures get into the mid-20s. But when those showers come along, you'll really know about it. '(There will be) some gusty winds, the potential for some hail, and certainly some frequent lightning and heavy rain as well. 'So, temperatures up to 25C in the warmest spots, but generally a little bit fresher out towards the west with the wind coming in from the Atlantic. 'By Monday evening, that rain will be starting to ease very slowly, but there'll still be showery outbreaks of rain through this evening and overnight for many northern and western parts of the UK.' Yellow warnings for thunderstorms remain in place for parts of Scotland tomorrow, while the rest of the UK will see a more mixed picture of sunny spells and scattered showers, with the rain continuing until the evening. Mr Morgan suggested that temperatures will remain high in places despite the adverse weather conditions. He said: 'Tuesday is not looking as unsettled. The showers won't be quite as widespread or indeed as heavy as they have been. 'Nonetheless, there will be some showers or longer spells of rain for Scotland in particular, the west, (and) northwestern parts of England as well. 'But many parts of England and Wales (will be) actually getting away with a fairly reasonable day with some dry periods. 'And if the sunshine does break through that cloud at times, well, we might see temperatures reach 24C or 25C.' Parts of Northern Ireland saw more than 85 per cent of the average July rainfall come down over a 24-hour period. Forecasters had earlier warned that some areas could see half a month's worth of rain in less than a day. The region normally records an average of 89mm of rain in July but falls of between 50 to 75mm had been predicted over a period of just 12 to 18 hours. Killowen in Co Down recorded 68mm of rain since 5pm on Sunday, the Met Office said around 2pm today - the highest amount of rainfall across the UK. It normally sees 80.75mm of rain for the whole month. Elsewhere, Murlough in Co Down saw 60mm of rain in the same period – 87 per cent of its July average of 69mm. The Met Office said other areas likely experienced higher amounts. Forecasters had put a 24-hour yellow-level rain warning in place for Antrim, Armagh and Down until 6pm today. A more intense amber-level warning was temporarily put in place overnight but lifted early. Forecasters had warned that there was a risk that homes and businesses could be flooded. In the Republic of Ireland, a status orange rain warning for Dublin, Louth, Meath and Wicklow came into effect from midnight and expired at 2pm today. Irish national forecasting agency Met Eireann said there was a chance of thunderstorms amid persistent and heavy rain. A less severe warning for the Kildare region also expired at 2pm.
The Review Geek
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Untamed (2025) – Episode 4 'Gold Rush' Recap & Review
Gold Rush Episode 4 of Untamed Season 1 starts with a flashback of Lucy revisiting her old home. She is wearing her mom's yellow dress and is startled when a man asks if she needs help. She runs off and changes her outfit. As she was about to leave, her friend asked her to stop assisting the wrong people. Lucy simply shrugged and went to the caves. Presently, Naya and Kyle continue investigating the caves. They head back to see what they can find. This time, they find Abuelo's lower jaw. A deeper investigation leads them to Abuelo's body. Based on Abuelo's body, it looks like he was killed roughly a week ago. Kyle goes back to the squatter village and informs Gloria of Abuelo's death. The news does not sadden Gloria since he was her ex. Kyle brings in more rangers to search the squatter's belongings and bring them in for questioning. Summer sees the rangers and hides behind a tree. Meanwhile, Kyle tells Souter that the cases are all connected. They find drugs among the squatters' belongings. Gloria, hardened by the world, refuses to talk. The rangers start running background checks on the other squatters. Lucy's DNA results come back and prove Rory was not her biological father. Kyle wonders if Lucy's mom had an affair. He insists on investigating, but Souter says it won't help much. A kid drops by the office and asks to talk to Kyle. The young man believes he knew Lucy when she was a teenager. He thinks Lucy is Grace McRay. According to him, Lucy/ Grace lived with a pastor's family back in Nevada. He last saw her ten years ago, and the Gibbs family reported that she had reunited with her family. The young man gives Kyle a picture of Lucy at the church. Afterwards, he asks about the reward money. In the meantime, Naya finds Summer and asks her about Lucy. Summer mentions Lucy has a boyfriend, whom she referred to as Terces. Lucy kept a lot of secrets, but the relationship changed her. She started selling drugs for her secret boyfriend. Sometimes, Lucy returned home all beaten up. She and Pakuna were close to Abuelo. Summer also adds that she saw Lucy on the day she died, right before she went on her usual swap at a nearby gulch. Naya briefs Kyle on her latest findings after talking to Summer. They agree to take a helicopter the next day and search the east side. Naya also goes through Lucy's bag. Later, Kyle does the same and notices a picture of Lucy with a man's hand on her shoulder. Unfortunately, the man's face is cropped out. At night, Kyle drops by Shane's favourite bar and asks about Abuelo and the drug ring. Kyle assumes Shane was in the drug business. Shane admits that once in a while, he got paid to look the other way. Other than that, he has no idea who is running the show. Shane brings up Lucy's case and mocks Kyle for failing to save Lucy. He also brings up Esther, Sean's lawyer, and implies Kyle might be involved in Sean's disappearance. Souter arrives in time to take Kyle away. He warns Kyle that if he does not stop drinking, he will lose his badge. Souter worries that Kyle is torturing himself with his cases and Caleb's death. At Naya's house, she gets a sudden visit from her ex. He demands to spend the night and reunite with Naya and Gael. He insists that Naya must return to L. A with him and cover for him about a case. He is currently on leave pending an investigation into missing money. He wants Naya to lie and clear his name. Naya refuses but agrees to let him spend the night. She sneaks out with Gael and drives to Kyle's house. She comes clean about her situation and the restraining order she has against him. Kyle agrees to let them stay over for the night. He allows Gael to play with everything except Caleb's toys. The following morning, Jill offers to babysit Gael while Kyle and Naya work. Kyle asks Milch to turn Pakuna loose and send him back to the empty squatter village. They secretly follow Pakuna to the caves and the drug ring leader. It turns out the gang executed Abuelo for betraying them. The episode ends with Naya and Kyle bringing Pakuna in. The Episode Review Kyle was smart to secretly follow Pakuna. He knew Pakuna would lead them to the ringleader. Pakuna doesn't look like the type to keep his mouth shut; he will sing like a canary. Naya's situation is scary. Imagine getting home and finding your violent ex in your room. He is trying to use Gael as leverage against her. He probably took the missing money but doesn't want to take the fall. At least Naya has filled Kyle in on the situation, and she is no longer alone. However, is it a good idea for Jill to watch Gael? Won't he remind her too much of Caleb? What did Shane mean when he asked Kyle about Sean? Was Sean linked to Caleb's death? Did Shane see Kyle kill Sean? There is a lot of tension between Shane and Kyle, and we still have no clue what they are beefing about.
CNN
15-07-2025
- Science
- CNN
Protecting Mexico's bats
Encountering vampire bats and snakes in dark caves may sound like the stuff of nightmares, but for Mexican ecologist Rodrigo Medellín it's just another day at work. As part of the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, he continues to fight multiple threats to bats and is determined to overcome what he believes to be their biggest – human ignorance.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Sneinton Hermitage caves taken on by heritage campaigner
Work is under way to restore caves in Nottingham which had become neglected and Hermitage is what remains of a row of houses, gardens, pubs and a ballroom which were cut into the soft stone of a cliff. But it was closed for health reasons, fenced off for years and was described as being in a "heartbreaking" state last heritage campaigner Janine Tanner has now agreed to take on the maintenance of the caves. She said: "To have the keys to another really important part of [Nottingham's] history is wonderful." Ms Tanner is an active campaigner for retaining the heritage of Nottingham buildings. She has previously organised an exhibition to mark 125 years of Victoria Station and currently is spearheading the partial restoration of Long Stairs - a survivor of Nottingham's once numerous medieval Tanner said following the complaints about the condition of the hermitage, the council cleared much of the vegetation from the area."I then asked could I maintain them and they said yes," she added. "They gave me the key and a green light to work on them.""It means a lot because I am so passionate about Nottingham's history."So to have the keys to another really important part of that history is wonderful."It means people who live here or come here will be able to see the caves, know they are being looked after." Ms Tanner and other volunteers have already swept out litter and broken glass, but have an ambition to open up the deeper caves to the said: "The sandstone does break off so we would only be able to let people in on supervised open days, but for now at least the caves have been cleaned up."Resident Kathryn Cooper, who helped raise the issue of the caves, said: "I feel the caves are in safe hands. I think the community is really touched she did this."
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New pseudoscorpions with dragon-like jaws discovered in a South Korea cave
Pseudoscorpions may lack the pointy, poisonous tail of their more famous desert-dwelling cousins, but their crab-like front pincers still make them look quite formidable. Now, these small, sometimes overlooked arachnids are getting a closer look. Four new species of these tiny arachnids have been uncovered in the dark caves of South Korea. They have jaws like dragons and are even completely blind, according to a study published July 9 in the journal PLOS One. Pseudoscorpions are harmless to humans and related to spiders and 'real' scorpions. They eat small insects, other arthropods, and larvae. They live in many habitats, and are often found in tiny crevices, under tree bark, and in humid environments full of leaf litter and moss. They also can be found in dark, damp places like caves. Since South Korea is home to hundreds of unexplored caves and close to countries with several pseudoscorpion species, arachnologists were curious what pseudoscorpions could be lurking in these limestone cave systems and lava tubes spread across two extensive mountain ranges. 'Pseudoscorpions are awesome animals,' Kyung–Hoon Jeong, a study co-author and arachnologist at South Korea's Jeonbuk National University, tells Popular Science. 'We can divide pseudoscorpions in two types–basal lineage and modern lineage.' The basal lineage cannot move far, making them endemic wherever they live. Scientists can use their distribution to learn more about their geographical secrets, according to Kyung–Hoon. The modern lineage does a little bit more. They hitchhike on other animals and make houses out of their silk. Only five pseudoscorpion species have been recorded from caves in South Korea, compared to the hundreds that have been documented in countries like China. This study brings that total up to nine. 'Many people have believed there is only one species (Spelaeochthonius dentifier) distributed in Korea. However, our result was totally different,' says Kyung–Hoon. The newly discovered species are named Spelaeochthonius dugigulensis, S. geumgulensis, S. magwihalmigulensis, and Those in the family Pseudotyrannochthoniidae are often referred to as 'dragon pseudoscorpions,' due to their large front appandages that resemble dragon jaws. All four new species strongly adapted to cave living and were only found in a single cave system. These new additions have an orange to brown color. They are mostly blind, and have dragon-like jaws that can clamp down on the smaller organisms. However, they are not all the same. 'Each species in the cave has big differences, both in morphology and genetically,' says Kyung–Hoon. 'Additionally, their relevance is supported by the connection between Korea and Japan.' This indicates that these pseudoscorpions likely were more widespread in East Asia before the Sea of Japan formed between the countries roughly 28 to 13 million years ago. They then likely traveled between the two over water, hitching rides on other organisms. While the team is still studying these new arachnids, their perfect adaptations to cave life means that they can only survive if their habitat stays intact. Pollution and climate change could threaten these small and endemic animals, according to Kyung–Hoon. 'Our study highlights the conservation value of pseudoscorpions, we believe that the interest of this small animal could bring attention to their habitats and environment,' he concludes.
