Five men trapped for eight days in an abandoned gold mine in Laos’s Xaisomboun province have been located by rescue teams after flash floods blocked their exit from the cave.
The Disappearance and Initial Search
On May 19, seven residents from the Longcheng district, located 120 km north of Vientiane, entered a remote cave. Heavy rainfall that same day triggered flash floods, trapping the men inside. Authorities were notified by the only member of the group who managed to escape.
Rescue Efforts Underway
The cave is locally known as an abandoned gold mine, often entered by residents despite persistent safety warnings. A rescue operation involving international divers and specialists was launched, including experts who previously participated in the 2018 Thailand cave rescue.
Survival in the Depths
Rescue teams from the organization Rescue Volunteer for People finally reached five survivors huddled on a rock inside a chamber over 300 meters from the entrance. The narrow corridor leading to them remains submerged.
Ongoing Extraction Mission
Divers have delivered food and water to the survivors and are currently developing a plan to extract them safely. The search for the two remaining missing individuals continues following the successful contact with the first five survivors.