Five villagers found alive in Laos cave as search continues for two missing | Laos

Five villagers trapped for more than a week in a flooded cave in central Laos have been found alive, but two more remain missing, rescuers said on 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 from the Lao People Rescue Volunteer organization, which worked closely with local authorities in the rescue efforts, said five people were found alive and well, but two more people were missing and the search 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. Those helping include divers and their football coaches from several countries who took part in the complex rescue operation in 2018 that involved 12 students trapped in a cave in northern Thailand for more than two weeks before they were 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 made their work difficult.

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 climb.

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