Four Lao nationals were rescued from a flooded cave on Saturday after being trapped for more than a week. Rising water blocked their exit while they searched for gold in Xaisomboun province. The rescue operation remains critical as two people are still missing and search efforts continue.
Rescuers brought the four men out of the cave hours after another trapped man was rescued late Friday. The five survivors were part of a group of seven Lao nationals who entered the cave for gold prospecting. Floodwaters trapped them inside, forcing authorities and volunteers to launch a complex rescue mission.
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According to Thai cave diver Kengkard Bongkawong, all four remaining survivors emerged safely from the cave on Saturday. Video footage showed rescuers guiding the men to safety with headlamps and muddy clothing. The survivors appeared emotional, with some reportedly crying after reaching safety.
⛑️ Rescue teams reach villagers trapped inside flooded cave in Laos after navigating narrow underwater passages in complex operation
🛟 One of 5 trapped villagers has been safely evacuated, while efforts continue to rescue remaining survivors and locate 2 missing people pic.twitter.com/pEIGgt2YsF
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) May 30, 2026
Meanwhile, rescue officials said the five survivors had been located on Wednesday but remained trapped due to difficult conditions. Teams continued working around the clock to secure safe passage from the flooded cave. Authorities have now shifted attention toward locating and rescuing the two missing individuals.
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The operation has drawn international support from experienced cave rescue specialists. Volunteers from Thailand joined the mission last week, while divers from several countries provided additional assistance. Some rescuers previously participated in the famous 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue in Thailand, bringing valuable expertise to the ongoing search effort.