The mission to save seven villagers trapped in a flooded cave in central Laos is far from over, as rescuers race to bring them out while ensuring adequate oxygen supply, the head of a Thai crew assisting with the operation said. The villagers entered the remote cave in Xaysomboun province on 19 May hunting for wildlife and gold. They became trapped after heavy rain triggered flash flooding and landslides, blocking the entrance.
Five Found Alive, Two Still Missing
On Wednesday, rescuers located five of the men alive, sitting on a rock inside the cave. Two others remain missing. On Thursday, Thai rescue specialist Kengkard Bongkawong, who participated in the dramatic 2018 mission to save young Thai footballers from a flooded cave, said the next step is to “escort all five people out of the cave,” a task he described as extremely difficult.
He highlighted the very narrow passage stretching several hundred metres, including a 27-metre stretch completely underwater. “The main dangers are running out of air and getting stuck, so we need a watertight safety and rescue backup plan ready to go instantly,” he wrote on Facebook. “We need to borrow as many oxygen tanks as possible and want to set up an oxygen refilling station in front of the cave.”
Search Continues for Missing Men
Mr Bongkawong said they would continue searching for the two missing men and urged their families not to lose hope. The first images of the trapped men showed them sitting on a rocky ledge surrounded by water, wearing headlamps, smiling, folding their hands, and bowing in gratitude. Aboveground, rescue crews were seen jumping with joy and hugging one another after learning the men had been found.
“I’m still shaking. Our team made it happen,” Bounkham Luanglath, a member of the Lao rescue team, said in a voice message to the Associated Press. He added that the search for the missing would continue.
Complex Cave System Poses Challenges
To reach the trapped men, rescuers navigated a complex 340-metre tunnel, according to Metta Tham Kalasin, one of the groups involved. Some areas are pitch black, partially flooded, and extremely narrow, with a width of roughly 23 inches. Rescuers said they had to tilt and squeeze through the tunnel, at times removing equipment to get through tight sections.
Since some sections are completely submerged and too narrow for two-way traffic, rescuers must maintain constant communication to avoid crossing paths. The men have been trapped for nine days, evoking memories of the 18-day operation to rescue 12 teenage footballers from the Tham Luang caves in Thailand in 2018.
