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Tourist dead and three missing in Mexican caves as storm traps family for days

A family where visiting Chichicazapan cave in Cuetzalan, Mexico, for a birthday celebration when they became trapped inside during heavy rain and flash flooding

[Jazmn Lizbeth Pea Antonio, Karime Antonio Pea, Ismael Pea, and Gerardo Julin de los Santos.]

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Jazmn Lizbeth Pea Antonio, Karime Antonio Pea, Ismael Pea, and Gerardo Julin de los Santos (Image: JamPress)

A person has died and three others are missing after a family were trapped in a cave for two days due to flash floods from sudden heavy rain.

The Pea family, who comes from Chignautla in Puebla State, Mexico, were on a sightseeing tour as part of a birthday celebration which has ended in tragedy

Six family members and a guide were trapped inside the subterranean river with one man now known to have died. Three others are still missing after entering the Chichicazapan cave in Cuetzalan on Tuesday afternoon.

Intense rainfall caused the underground river to surge rapidly and the guide suggested sheltering inside the cave to avoid getting wet, but rising waters and strong currents swept the group deeper into the cave system, making escape impossible.

Three people - Araceli Antonio Pea, Agustn Julin (boyfriend of one of the daughters), and the guide - managed to fight the current and reach safety on the first day.

On Wednesday, search teams recovered the body of Gerardo Julin de los Santos, aged 31 and brother of Agustn, who had drowned.

The three people still missing are Ismael Pea, Aracelis husband, and their daughters Karime Pea, 24, and Jazmn Lizbeth Pea, 21.

Araceli, 40, wife and mother of the missing, said: We went in when it had only just started raining. The guide told us to go further inside so we wouldnt get wet. We never thought the cave would flood.

[A massive rescue operation has been underway to try and find members of the family]

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A massive rescue operation is underway to try and find members of the family(Image: JamPress)

The guide, employed by the firm Destino de Aventura was hospitalised overnight before being discharged.

Ongoing search efforts involving eight specialist teams - including divers, rappellers, and speleologists - have been repeatedly suspended because of ongoing rain and safety risks to rescuers.

Cuetzalan, located in the humid Sierra Norte highlands, is notorious for frequent heavy rainfall that can quickly swell subterranean waterways.

[A massive rescue operation has been underway to try and find members of the family]

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Three people are still missing(Image: JamPress)

Authorities have stressed that operations will resume only during safe weather windows. According to reports, the tourists received only basic equipment such as life jackets, helmets, and lamps, with no ropes or advanced safety gear.

The family travelled to celebrate their youngest daughters 21st birthday and to fulfil her wish to visit the caves.

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