police,nlThe two men had completely furnished part of the cave
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L1mburg
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 08:14
Natuurmonumenten warns that the marl caves in South Limburg are dangerous and off-limits. This week, two people were found in a cave near Maastricht who may have been there for some time.
“These people were completely blackened by the fire they were lighting inside,” the police said 1Limburg. “If these individuals had stayed in the cave longer with the lit fire, they would likely have died.”
The two people were discovered by an enforcer from Natuurmonumenten, the supervisor of the extensive cave system under the Limburg hills. The police then had to scramble quite a bit to get to the so-called Customs Cave near Maastricht.
The pair were checked for carbon monoxide poisoning by ambulance personnel and then taken to hospital. It is unknown what condition they are in now.
Too little oxygen
The Limburg marl quarries are approximately 250 large and small tunnel systems that have been created in recent centuries in Dutch South Limburg and in two Belgian neighboring municipalities through the underground extraction of chalk rock and limestone.
Because many of these corridor systems have multiple entrances, arises march. The air is refreshed and there is sufficient oxygen available. But in more closed areas, the oxygen in the room sometimes runs out quickly, especially when a fire is lit.
According to Tim Coumans of Natuurmonumenten, the two that have now been found are not the first to camp underground. He warns for the dangers. “Most quarries are not safe and are closed off by barbed wire,” he says. “In the larger corridor systems of eighty to ninety kilometers long where you can get lost, there are higher fences equipped with an alarm system.”
The caves are unclear and therefore dangerous. In addition, they are home to protected bat populations that should not be disturbed. So forbidden territory. Yet the caves exert a great attraction. “The Sint Pietersberg has a lot of marl grooves, ideal places for homeless people to stay in the winter,” says Coumans. “It’s dry and warm.”
Illegale raves
It is not only homeless people who seek refuge there. Illegal raves also took place during corona. Coumans also mentions mountain runners, cavers, adventurers, vloggers and YouTubers.
He does not have exact numbers. “People are found several times a year. Last year, about ten people were fined. If they are homeless, then there is no point in drawing up a report. We usually look at a criminal investigation together with other care providers. solution for these people.”
2024-01-24 07:14:49
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