Three Men Rescued in Lava Tunnels Beneath Mendig – Police Warn Against Entering

The emergency call reached the dispatch center from 32 meters below. It was thus clear that the missing persons were deep inside the tunnel system. Rescuers immediately began searching for the missing persons by calling out at several entrances until they could finally be located.

Firefighters, police, and emergency medical services participated in the rescue operation. The response teams were supported by an expert from the Ministry of the Environment who had access to plans of the tunnel system. Without these documents, the search in the widely branched network of passages would have been even more difficult, it was said.

Rescue with Expert Knowledge

After being brought to the surface, the three young men were given medical examinations. According to police, they showed mild hypothermia; a serious injury did not appear to be present based on initial findings. The constant seven degrees Celsius inside the passages is comparatively mild, yet there is mortal danger for anyone unfamiliar with the system.

The police announced that the three men must expect criminal consequences. Charges were filed against them. In addition, the young men may have to bear the costs of the rescue operation on Wednesday afternoon.

Police Issue Urgent Warning

The authorities used the incident to once again urgently warn against unauthorized entry into the tunnels. "Die Polizei warnt eindringlich davor, unberechtigt die unterirdischen Tunnelsysteme zu betreten und damit sein Leben und das Leben der Einsatzkräfte zu gefährden," a statement said.

Beneath the city of Mendig in the Eastern Eifel, a region between the Rhine, Moselle, and Ahr rivers, a network of tunnels and shafts extending roughly three square kilometers stretches at a depth of 32 meters. According to the city, it is the world's largest basalt lava quarry, created through intensive extraction over decades.

History of the Lava Quarry

The black basalt originates from the lava flow of the region's most recent volcanic eruptions. The stone was a valuable raw material for centuries. In the late Middle Ages, the people of Mendig began extracting the black basalt. Over the centuries, an impressive yet dangerous underground labyrinth was created in this way.

The temperature in the tunnels is, according to police, constantly seven degrees Celsius. This even coolness was once used by the brewing industry: in the middle of the 19th century, 28 breweries in the city stored their beer in the rock cellars because they offered ideal temperature conditions. Of the former flourishing beer storage era, only a few traces remain today.

Beer Storage and Museum

Today, the rock cellars are primarily a tourist destination. The Lava Dome Volcano Museum organizes tours through accessible areas of the tunnel system. Visitors can experience the dimensions of the underground labyrinth without putting themselves in danger. The organized tours are considered safe and follow clearly marked routes.

According to the response teams, the rescue operation proceeded without incident. After receiving medical care at the scene, the three rescued men were handed over to their relatives. The police provided no information regarding their exact age; only that they were young men was disclosed.

The police emphasized that the tunnel facilities have several entrances that are officially sealed off. Anyone who nevertheless gains access endangers not only themselves but also the rescue personnel who, in an emergency, would have to venture into the depths.

Consequences for the Rescued

The incident throws a spotlight on the dangers posed by seemingly forgotten or abandoned industrial facilities. Even though the tunnels in Mendig are mapped and experts have access to plans, the system remains a dangerous labyrinth for the unfamiliar.

The investigation against the three young men is ongoing. The public prosecutor's office must now decide which charges will be brought in detail. In addition to suspicion of trespass, further offenses may be considered, such as triggering a rescue operation under false pretenses or violations of mining law.

The city of Mendig expressed relief at the fortunate outcome but at the same time pointed to the existing prohibitions. In the coming days, it will be examined whether the security measures at the access points are sufficient or whether improvements are necessary.