Rush to rescue explorers trapped in French cave

PARIS -- French authorities are working to rescue seven cave explorers who've been trapped overnight in a cave in the Pyrenees.

The Haute-Garonne prefecture launched a rescue operation Wednesday morning. Officials said in a statement that contact has been made, that the seven are "safe and sound" and will be brought out of the cave in the coming hours.

Spain's foreign ministry said that the trapped explorers are believed to be Spaniards and that the Spanish Consul in Toulouse has gone to the scene.

Extreme weather and recent heavy rain have caused flooding in some caves in the mountainous region - well-known to cave explorers. It's about 85 miles southwest of Toulouse and about 20 miles from the Spanish border in the area of Arbas-Herran.