Rescue teams in central Laos have successfully located five villagers who became trapped in a flooded cave more than a week ago, though search efforts continue for two others who remain unaccounted for, officials announced Wednesday.
The group of seven villagers had entered the cave located in Xaisomboun province on May 19 when sudden heavy rainfall caused flash flooding that sealed off their escape route, according to rescue teams from Laos and Thailand participating in the operation.
Bounkham Luanglath, representing the Lao organization Rescue Volunteer for People, which has been collaborating with local officials on the rescue mission, confirmed to The Associated Press that five individuals were discovered safe and alive, while efforts to locate the remaining two will persist.
“I’m still shaking. Our team made it happen,” he stated in a voice message.
Footage released by a Thai rescue organization appeared to capture the moment when divers surfaced and located the stranded villagers. The video shows the individuals, each equipped with headlamps, positioned on a rock formation surrounded by flood waters.
Additional footage depicted rescue personnel both inside and outside the cave celebrating with cheers, jumping, and embracing one another following the successful discovery.
International rescue specialists from Thailand joined the operation over the weekend, including divers who participated in the complex 2018 rescue operation in northern Thailand that successfully freed 12 schoolchildren and their soccer coach after they spent more than two weeks trapped underground.
The cave sits in a challenging, isolated location within Xaisomboun province’s Longcheng district, positioned approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Vientiane, the capital city. Rescue personnel at the location have documented through social media the difficult mountainous conditions and persistent rainfall that have complicated their efforts.
Online footage shared by Thai rescue teams revealed that accessing the cave entrance demands a challenging uphill trek on foot covering roughly 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). The cave opening itself presents additional obstacles with its steep, rocky terrain and narrow width that permits only one person to pass through at a time.
While no official explanation has been provided regarding the villagers’ purpose for entering the cave, Bounkham indicated that local residents commonly visited the location in search of gold, despite repeated safety warnings from authorities advising against cave entry due to dangerous conditions.
