Rescuers race to reach seven trapped in a Laos cave

Rescuers have been racing against time to reach seven people trapped in a cave in central Laos since last week.

A group of villagers in Xaisomboun province entered the cave to search for gold on May 19, but heavy rain triggered flash flooding that blocked the exit, according to Laotian and Thai rescue teams involved in the operation.

Bounkham Luanglath, who leads the Laos People Rescue Volunteer, told The Associated Press on Monday that one person in the group escaped before the exit was blocked and alerted authorities. The condition of the 7 people stranded is unknown.

He said the cave was a narrow chamber frequently visited by villagers looking for gold deposits.

Authorities had repeatedly warned people not to enter the cave due to safety concerns.

State-run Lao National Radio reported that Thai rescue teams arrived in the area on Sunday to help.

Divers have since begun to navigate flooded parts of the cave towards the area where they believe the group may have been trapped.

The Laotian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment.

The Southeast Asian country is a one-party communist state with no organized opposition, and the government generally keeps information tightly secret.