5 Villagers Missing In A Flooded Laos Cave For More Than A Week Found Alive, Rescuers Say

BANGKOK (AP) — Five villagers We were trapped in a flooded cave in central Laos He had been found alive for more than a week, but two more people remained missing, rescuers said Wednesday.

Villagers entered the cave in Xaisomboun province on May 19, but heavy rain triggered flash floods that blocked the exit, trapping seven people, according to Lao and Thai rescue teams involved in the operation.

Bounkham Luanglath of the Lao People Rescue Volunteer organization, which worked closely with local authorities on the rescue effort, told The Associated Press that five people were found alive and safe, but two more were missing and the search for them would continue.

“I’m still shaking. Our team pulled it off,” he said in his voicemail.

A video released by a Thai rescue group involved in the mission showed the moment divers emerged from the water and discovered the trapped villagers. In the footage, villagers, each wearing headlamps, can be seen sitting on a rock surrounded by flood waters.

Other videos show rescuers inside and outside the cave cheering, jumping and hugging each other with joy after the discovery.

Rescue teams from neighboring Thailand arrived in the area over the weekend. Among those assisting are divers from many countries participating in a complex dive. 2018 rescue in northern Thailand A group of 12 students and their football coach were trapped in a cave for more than two weeks before being safely rescued.

The cave is located in a rugged and remote area in the Longcheng district of Xaisomboun province, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the capital Vientiane. Rescue teams at the scene detailed on social media the difficult mountainous terrain and heavy rain that hampered their work.

Videos shared online by Thai rescuers showed that reaching the cave’s entrance required a steep hike of about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). The entrance is also steep and rocky and only wide enough for a single person to pass through.

There is no official explanation yet as to why the villagers entered the cave. But Bounkham said the cave was visited by local residents searching for gold, despite authorities repeatedly warning them not to enter the cave due to safety concerns.