Injuries reported in Wash. ice cave collapse, police say

GRANITE FALLS, Wash.-- The Snohomish County sheriff's office says rescuers are responded to a report of a partial collapse of ice caves near Granite Falls, Washington.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Shari Ireton confirmed the collapse of the caves and that there were injuries, but the number of injuries and their nature was unclear.

"Injured parties are being transported from the area by air and ground," Ireton said in a statement. "Several area fire and aid are on scene."

Ireton did not immediately return an Associated Press call and email seeking additional details.

In Seattle, Harborview Medical Center spokeswoman Susan Gregg says the regional trauma center has been told to expect one person.

On Sunday, a hiker filmed a section of the caves tumbling down. Several tourists were inside a cave during that collapse, but there were no reported injuries.

The U.S. Forest Service warned hikers in May that the Big Four Ice Caves were in their "most dangerous state" due to unseasonably warm weather.

The caves north of Seattle are a popular hiking destination in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

In 2010, an 11-year-old girl was killed at the caves by falling ice.