College students rescued from flooded cave in Kentucky

HORSE CAVE, Ky. -- More than a dozen college students were rescued Thursday afternoon after becoming trapped by high water in an underground cave in south-central Kentucky, authorities said.

Hart County Emergency Management spokesperson Kerry McDaniel told CBS News 21 explorers entered Hidden River Cave in the town of Horse Cave around 10 o'clock Thursday morning.

Early in the afternoon, a severe thunderstorm moved through the area, causing flash flooding.

McDaniel said four cavers were able to escape but 17 others, all college students, were stuck. They were eventually rescued but a police officer who went in to help was unaccounted for.

Dive teams were en route and several law enforcement agencies were taking part in the search.

It could be more than 12 hours before the water in the cave recedes, McDaniel said.