The team had no connection to Layan’s disappearance.
They were interested in underground geology, particularly the network of narrow passages formed by water moving through fractured rock over thousands of years.
A recent period of heavy rain had washed loose sediment from a hillside, revealing an opening partially hidden behind shrubs.
The entrance was barely wide enough for a person to crawl through.
From outside, it looked like a shallow crack.
But when one explorer directed a flashlight inside, the beam disappeared into an unexpectedly deep passage.
The team decided to investigate.
They secured their equipment, checked their lights, and entered one at a time.
The first section was difficult.
Loose stones covered the ground. The ceiling dropped so low that they had to move on their hands and knees. In some places, they squeezed sideways between rough limestone walls.
After several minutes, the passage widened.
The explorers emerged into a sloping corridor where cool air moved steadily through the darkness.
