Rescuers Free Five Trapped in Laos Cave for a Week; Hunt for Two Others Intensifies
(Updates with rescue progress, adds background on cave conditions and past Thai rescue expertise)
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Rescue teams in Laos found five people alive on Wednesday, nearly a week after they became trapped inside a cave in the country's central Xaisomboun province. The operation, involving Lao authorities and Thai volunteer divers, continues for the two remaining members of the group, according to Thai rescuers on the scene.
"As of 4:30 p.m. local time (0930 GMT), we found five people. We will continue to search for the other two," said Kengkard Bongkawong, head of the Thai rescue team, who has been coordinating efforts with local officials.
Another Thai volunteer rescuer, Chakrakrit Taengtung, posted a video on social media showing him cheering with the five survivors, who appeared in good spirits — raising their arms and smiling — a sign that the cramped, humid conditions had not broken their morale.
The seven Lao nationals had entered the cave last week in search of gold, a common but risky activity in the region's karst landscape. Heavy rainfall and a landslide later blocked the exit, trapping them inside without food or clean water for days, according to the local volunteer group and state-run Lao Phattha News.
The Thai volunteer group joined the rescue operation on Sunday. Among them was a diver who participated in the 2018 rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in northern Thailand — a mission that drew global attention and involved British and other foreign divers, U.S. military personnel and international support. The experience proved valuable in navigating the dangerous, waterlogged passages of the Lao cave.
Xaisomboun province, known for its rugged terrain and underground river systems, poses unique challenges for rescue teams. The monsoon season, which began early this year, has increased the risk of flash floods and landslides across the region. While the rescued five are now receiving medical care, the search for the missing two continues, with rescuers facing the threat of further bad weather.
The incident highlights the perilous conditions faced by informal gold miners in Laos, where accidents and cave-ins are not uncommon due to a lack of safety regulations and proper equipment. It also underscores the growing cross-border cooperation between Lao and Thai rescue organizations, which has strengthened since the 2018 Thai cave rescue.
(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Mike Fuentes)