Rescue authorities have found five survivors from villagers trapped in a flooded cave in Laos and are now urgently searching for two others who remain missing.
On Wednesday, 27 May 2026 GMT+7, rescue teams from Laos and Thailand announced they had found five survivors out of seven villagers trapped inside a cave flooded for nearly a week in Laos. Authorities are now intensifying efforts to find the remaining two missing individuals.
“We have found five survivors, and all are safe. Currently, two others remain missing and we are searching for them,” stated the People's Volunteer Rescue Group, a Lao rescue unit, in a social media post.
Meanwhile, Thai rescue worker Kengkaj Bangkwong posted on Facebook: “At 16:30, we found our target—five people—and are continuing to search for the remaining two.”
The Lao government newspaper, Lao Economic Daily, also reported that five survivors have been located.
Seven Lao villagers entered a cave in Xaysomboun province, located in central Laos about 125 kilometers northeast of Vientiane, on 20 May to search for gold. However, they became trapped inside when heavy rains caused flash floods that blocked the exit.
Finnish expert rescue diver Mikko Pasi said on Wednesday morning that rescuers face many obstacles inside the cave, including narrow passages stretching hundreds of meters, floodwaters, risks of landslides, and dangerous contaminated air.
Pasi had earlier posted on social media that all seven were likely trapped in the farthest cave chamber, about 300 meters from the exit.
“This area is unowned land,” said Baeng, a Lao rescue official who spoke to AFP, requesting only his first name be used for safety reasons. “Villagers usually dig holes and forage there regularly.”
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Source:cna