Post by : Bianca
Haleem
Rescue teams in central Laos have successfully located five out of seven villagers trapped in a flooded cave. Operations are ongoing to search for the two individuals still unaccounted for.
As reported by both Laotian and Thai rescuers, the survivors were discovered on Wednesday in Xaysomboun province, approximately 125 kilometers northeast of Vientiane, the capital.
In a social media update, the Laotian group Rescue Volunteer for People stated, “We’ve found 5 people alive and all safe. There are still 2 people we are searching for.” Thai rescuer Kengkach Bangkawong further confirmed this, announcing, “At 4:30 pm, we found our target. We found five people. We are looking for the other two.”
Additionally, state-run media outlet Lao Economic Daily reported that five villagers were indeed located alive.
The group of seven had entered the cave on May 20 to search for gold when unanticipated heavy rain caused severe flash flooding, isolating them inside.
Finnish rescue diver Mikko Paasi remarked on the challenging conditions rescuers faced, navigating through “hundreds of meters of constant restrictions, flood waters, collapse hazards and high risk of contaminated air quality.” He described the area as resembling an “abandoned gold mine.”
Paasi also mentioned that the trapped villagers were thought to be in a terminal chamber around 300 meters from the cave's entrance.
A local rescuer, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons, pointed out that the site is not officially owned and typically visited by locals for food and minor digging efforts.
Rescue teams are continuing their mission, searching tirelessly for the remaining two villagers within this treacherous cave system.
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