The mission to rescue seven Laotian villagers trapped inside a cave in Laos is ongoing. The rescue team recently stated that a large number of additional oxygen tanks are needed to accelerate the safe evacuation of the survivors from the cave.
The head of the Thai volunteer team participating in the rescue mission revealed on Thursday that officials are urgently sourcing and borrowing more oxygen tanks and plan to set up an oxygen refill station at the cave entrance to support the operation.
Reports indicate that all seven villagers entered the cave last week to mine gold, but a landslide and flooding caused by heavy rain blocked the exit, leaving them trapped inside.
So far, at least five survivors have been found, but none have been evacuated yet. Some volunteer groups in Laos claim all seven have been located and are safe, but this information has not been officially confirmed.
The Thai rescue team began participating in the operation last Sunday. One of the divers involved previously played a significant role in rescuing the 13-member Wild Boars youth football team from Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province in 2018, a mission that attracted global attention.
Currently, officials and rescue teams continue to assess conditions inside the cave amid challenges posed by water levels and oxygen limitations, which are critical factors for the safety of both the victims and rescuers.
: Sourcechannelnewsasia
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