Five Found Alive In Flooded Laos Cave As Risky Rescue Operation Continues

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Vientiane: Rescue teams in Laos are preparing for a difficult extraction mission after five of seven villagers trapped inside a flooded cave were found alive following nearly a week underground.

The men were discovered deep inside the cave system in central Laos after rescuers spent days navigating narrow, water-filled tunnels and dangerous underground passages. Two people remain missing as search operations continue.

Video released from inside the cave showed one of the trapped men lowering his head in relief and gratitude as rescuers finally reached the group in the dark chamber.

Despite the breakthrough, officials and rescue experts warned that bringing the survivors out safely could be even more dangerous than locating them.

International and Thai cave divers involved in the mission said rescuers had to crawl through flooded sections and squeeze through tunnels as narrow as 60 centimetres to reach the chamber where the villagers were sheltering. The group is believed to be around 300 metres from the cave entrance.

Rescuers described the cave environment as extremely hazardous, with muddy floodwaters, unstable rock conditions and concerns over air quality and oxygen levels inside the cave system.

Teams are now working to deliver additional oxygen supplies and establish support stations near the cave entrance. Rescue officials said dozens of oxygen tanks are needed for both the trapped villagers and the divers involved in the operation.

Experts say the extraction will be especially difficult because the trapped men are not trained cave divers. In flooded cave rescues, survivors often need to be physically guided or attached to professional divers while moving through underwater passages with little or no visibility.

Authorities in Laos said rescue efforts remain ongoing as teams race against worsening weather conditions and the risk of further flooding inside the cave.

Pic Credit: AFP