Rescuers have reached five of seven people trapped for a week in a flooded cave in Laos, with two still missing. The group was discovered on a rocky ledge in a dark chamber surrounded by muddy water, according to video shared by divers.
The men told rescuers they were hungry and dehydrated. Outside, families celebrated as a boy spotted his father among the survivors. Finnish diver Mikko Paasi, who helped rescue a Thai football team in 2018, warned that extraction from the terminal chamber would be difficult.
The group entered the cave in Xaysomboun province to hunt for wildlife and search for gold, but heavy rain blocked the entrance. Thai and international divers navigated narrow, flooded tunnels to reach them, with passageways at times just 60cm deep.
Rescuers are now planning to locate the remaining two men. Persistent rain and floodwaters have complicated efforts, forcing teams to retreat at times. Divers delivered oral rehydration salts and water on Wednesday.
It is unclear if the group was mining for gold as part of small-scale activity or for a company. Alluvial mining has boomed in Laos, with nearly 200 mines opening between 2023 and 2025, though the government banned new permits last year.
