Chichicazapan cave rescue to resume in October

Authorities in Cuetzalan plan to resume the recovery operation for three members of the Peña family, who have been trapped in the Chichicazapan caves since July 7. The victims, identified as Ismael and his daughters Yazmín Lizbeth and Karime, were caught in a sudden rise in underground river levels caused by heavy rainfall.

José Luis García Parra, coordinator of the State Cabinet, stated that rescue efforts will likely resume in October. This delay is due to ongoing intense rainfall and high water levels in the caves, which have made previous recovery attempts dangerous for rescue personnel. Protection Civil will conduct a new assessment next month to determine if weather conditions allow for a safe operation.

While the bodies remain inaccessible, family members have been able to view the location of the remains through drone imagery. Officials emphasized that while the state is committed to recovering the bodies, they cannot jeopardize the lives of rescuers.