Five of Seven Trapped in Laos Flooded Cave Found Alive

Five of seven villagers trapped in a flooded cave in Laos have been found alive on Wednesday. The divers located the five villagers in a deep underground chamber in Xaisomboun province, central Laos. The group had been trapped for a week after heavy rain triggered flash floods that blocked the cave’s exit. The emotional moment was captured on video showing rescuers reaching the victims. The dramatic rescue operation has drawn comparisons to the 2018 Thai cave rescue of a youth football team. Although found, the villagers remain trapped in the underground chamber as rescuers continue searching for the two missing individuals. ‘Five people have been found alive. The search continues for the remaining two,’ wrote Thai diver Kengkad Bongkawong on his Facebook account at 16:30 local time. The local Laotian rescue group, Rescue Volunteer for People, confirmed the five were ‘alive and safe’. Mikko Paasi, a Finnish diver involved in the operation, expressed relief but cautioned that the struggle was far from over. ‘The task so far has been extremely challenging and everyone involved has done an incredible job,’ Paasi wrote on Instagram. However, he added that this was ‘only a brief relief’ as the evacuation process still lay ahead. ‘Everyone is in good health and spirits, but the extraction process remains ahead and it won’t be easy,’ he said. Paasi and other divers are now tasked with returning to deliver supplies to help the victims regain strength before evacuation. Video footage shows the villagers reported no injuries but were physically weakened and severely hungry. The evacuation process is expected to be extremely challenging. To reach the victims, rescuers must navigate a 340-metre-long tunnel largely submerged in water and pitch black. At some points, the cave passages are extremely narrow—just 23 inches (58 cm) wide—forcing divers to remove their scuba gear to squeeze through. The all-male group entered the cave last Wednesday to search for gold. However, severe weather turned the cave into a deadly water trap. Fortunately, they survived by taking refuge on a high ledge with continuous airflow. Over 100 people are reported to be involved in the operation, including 15 experienced divers who previously assisted in Thailand’s cave rescue.