Rescue teams in Laos have successfully freed four more villagers who were trapped inside a flooded cave for 10 days, bringing the total number of rescued survivors to five as efforts continue to locate two men who remain missing.
The dramatic rescue operation took place in Xaisomboun Province, where seven villagers became trapped after entering a cave in search of valuable minerals. Flash flooding suddenly inundated the cave system, cutting off their escape route and leaving them stranded deep underground.
According to Lao and Thai rescue organizations, the latest group of survivors was safely evacuated after water levels inside the cave dropped enough to allow divers to guide them out. Photos released by rescue teams showed the exhausted men lying on stretchers, wrapped in thermal blankets and receiving oxygen support after their ordeal.
The rescue mission gained momentum after the first trapped villager was successfully extracted on Friday. That operation reportedly took about 30 minutes and involved navigating narrow, flooded passages with the assistance of professional divers.
Videos shared by rescuers showed emotional scenes as survivors emerged from the cave covered in mud, some collapsing from exhaustion before being embraced by rescue workers celebrating the successful operation.
Authorities said the villagers had entered the cave to search for minerals when flash floods suddenly blocked their exit. One member of the group managed to escape before the flooding intensified and alerted authorities, triggering a large-scale international rescue effort.
Five survivors were located alive earlier this week and identified by their first names as Khamla, Mued, Ee, Ing and Laen. Their discovery raised hopes for a successful rescue despite the challenging conditions inside the flooded cave system.
The operation brought together rescue specialists from Laos and neighboring Thailand, along with experts from Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, France and Australia. Several team members previously participated in the world-renowned 2018 Thai cave rescue that saved 12 schoolboys and their soccer coach.
Despite the successful evacuations, rescuers say the mission is far from over. Search teams are preparing to explore deeper sections of the cave, where the two remaining missing villagers are believed to be located.
According to rescue officials, the area lies approximately 20 to 25 meters beyond the location where the survivors were found. However, the section remains heavily flooded, creating significant challenges for divers and search crews.
Authorities remain hopeful that the remaining missing men can be located as rescue efforts continue in the rugged mountainous region about 120 kilometers north of Vientiane.