Five of seven villagers trapped inside a flooded cave in central Laos have been found alive after more than a week trapped underground.
A group of eight entered the cave in Long Chaeng district, Xaisomboun province, on 20 May, reportedly searching for gold and wildlife.
Heavy monsoon rains triggered flash flooding and a landslide that blocked the entrance to the cave, although one of the villagers was able to escape and raise the alarm.
Combined teams of rescue personnel and divers from Laos and Thailand were deployed in the search and rescue effort, which has been made difficult by the cave’s remote location, difficult terrain and continued rain.
Earlier this week, Finnish cave specialist Mikko Paasi and Thai cave diving instructor Narrased ‘Ben’ Palasing were brought to the site to assist with the recovery mission.
Both men are veterans of the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue in Thailand, when 12 youth footballers and their coach were rescued from a flooded cave system near Chiang Rai after spending 19 days trapped in an air pocket.
On 27 May, the rescue divers reached five of the men, who were huddled on a rocky ledge in a chamber approximately 300 metres inside the cave. They were described as safe, healthy and in good spirits.
Kengkard Bongkawong, head of operations for the Thai volunteer rescue group Metta Tham, told reporters that the five men were found at 4.30 pm local time (9:30 GMT), adding that the search continued for the other two.
A Laotian rescue group added: ‘We’ve found five people alive and all safe. There are still two people we are searching for.’
‘This is only a brief relief as the five survivors are still in the terminal chamber,’ said Paasi after the men were found. ‘All [the men] are healthy and in good spirits, but the extraction is still ahead and it ain’t going to be easy.’
‘We are racing against time as today marks the seventh day and the way in is full of challenges,’ added Paasi, describing the difficult conditions faced by the rescue team. ‘You have to navigate hundreds of metres of constant restrictions, flood waters, collapse hazards and high risk of contaminated air quality.’
‘The collapse risks are high because you’re constantly touching the roof, and it’s hand-dug,’ Paasi continued. ‘There’s no support anywhere.
‘If there’s a body, somebody in front of you, you’re stuck. And there’s no way to turn around until you hit the next chamber, which can be 100 metres forward.’
Norrased ‘Ben’ Palasing described the emotional first contact with the survivors. ‘They’re crying, they are really glad I’m there and shouting and [grabbing] my hand. ‘They do everything, like, super emotional and then I try to calm them.’
Rescue teams are now focused on supplying the five survivors with food, water and medical support while continuing the search for the remaining two villagers.
Extraction of those located is expected to be highly complex due to the narrow passages, ongoing rain and technical challenges of the cave system.
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