NOVOSIBIRSK, July 13 (RIA Novosti) - A group of eight tourists and two guides has gone missing in a vast underground cave in southern Siberia's Altai Territory, a local emergencies ministry spokesman said Friday.

The group descended into the Geofizicheskaya cave, which extends 130 meters (430 feet) below ground and contains one of Siberia's largest grottos, on Thursday evening.

"We are currently unable to offer versions of events. Anything could have happened... They could have been wounded while climbing down, or simply lost their way," the spokesman said.

He said none of the tourists had tried to contact emergency services, nor had locals seen anyone leaving the cave, which was discovered in 1971. A rescue team is due to arrive at the site later Friday.