Rescuers in Italy work to free trapped cave explorer

Rescuers are trying to free a woman in a cave northeast of the Italian city of Bergamo who was injured in a fall and became trapped while exploring with eight other people.

Ottavia Piana, 32, remained blocked deep inside the Bueno Fonteno cave, where the temperatures were ranging from 7C to 8C in high humidity.

Piana, considered an expert cave explorer, was injured after falling five metres on Saturday evening during an expedition to map a kilometre of an uncharted branch of the cave but rescuers said she is alert and responsive.

She suffered multiple traumas, including to the face, ribs and knee, rescuers said.

Members of her team reported her missing after reaching the surface on Saturday evening, and rescuers reached her late on Sunday.

They are using small explosives in an attempt to breach the last 100 metres to reach her.

A spokesman for the rescue operation, Mauro Guiducci, said it was impossible to foresee how long it would take to free Piana.

"One thing is certain, these kinds of operations are very long," Guiducci said, adding that a team of 20 technicians were operating inside the cave and dozens more were assisting above ground.