Five villagers who had been trapped in a flooded cave in Laos for over a week have been located alive, though two others remain missing. The group had entered the cave in Xaisomboun province on May 19, but heavy rain led to flash flooding that blocked their exit, leaving seven individuals stranded. Bounkham Luanglath from the Lao organization Rescue Volunteer for People reported that five villagers were found safe, but the search continues for the remaining two. A Thai rescue group shared a video showing divers discovering the trapped villagers, who were sitting on a rock surrounded by floodwater.
Rescue teams from Thailand, including divers with experience from the 2018 Thailand cave rescue, have been aiding in the operation. Divers have ventured about 100m into the flooded cave and believe the trapped individuals may be about 30m further inside. Efforts are underway to pump water out of the cave to facilitate the rescue mission. The remote location of the site in Longcheng district, Xaisomboun province, has presented challenges due to the rugged terrain and heavy rainfall.
Videos released by Thai rescuers depict the arduous journey to reach the cave entrance, involving a steep 2.5-mile hike on foot and navigating through narrow, rocky passageways inside the cave. The rescue operation has been hampered by the difficult conditions, including flooded sections and tight tunnels that require crawling. The search for the missing villagers is ongoing as rescue teams persevere in their efforts to bring them to safety.