Five of seven villagers trapped in a flooded cave in central Laos for more than a week have been found alive, rescuers said Wednesday. Two others remain missing.
The group entered a cave in Xaisomboun province on May 19. Heavy rain triggered flash flooding, blocking the exit and trapping all seven, according to Lao and Thai rescue teams.
Bounkham Luanglath of the Lao organization Rescue Volunteer for People confirmed the discovery, saying, "I'm still shaking. Our team made it happen."
Rescue workers from neighboring Thailand arrived over the weekend. Divers from several nations who participated in the 2018 rescue of 12 schoolboys from a Thai cave are among those assisting.
The cave is located in a rugged, remote area in Xaisomboun province’s Longcheng district, about 120 kilometers north of Vientiane. Reaching the entrance requires a steep, four-kilometer hike. The entrance itself is steep, rocky, and barely wide enough for a single person.
Authorities have not confirmed why the villagers entered the cave, though it is reportedly frequented by locals searching for gold, despite repeated safety warnings.