Two Thai divers who participated in the dramatic 2018 rescue of a youth football team have arrived in Laos to assist in saving seven people trapped in a flooded cave for six days. The group entered a remote cave in Xaysomboun province on Wednesday to hunt for wildlife and search for gold, but heavy rain triggered flash flooding and landslides, blocking the entrance.
The divers, along with a Finnish specialist also involved in the 2018 Tham Luang rescue, joined the operation after videos showed parts of the Xaysomboun cave completely flooded with muddy water. Rescue workers have been unable to contact any of the missing individuals since they became trapped.
On Tuesday, rescue crews made progress by breaking through 15 metres of obstacles in a single day. Kengkard Bongkawong, head of operations for the Thai rescue group Metta Tham Rescue, expressed optimism: 'From this moment on, I believe our success is not far away.' Earlier, he noted that crews were fitting ropes and had not detected signs of life but estimated they were 'less than 20m away' from the trapped group.
Mr Kengkard reported that water was being pumped out continuously, and a survey above the cave found four shafts that could provide additional rescue routes. 'We estimate that less than 20m remain before we reach the key target area,' he said. Authorities learned of the entrapment after one man managed to escape before the flooding.
'I'm confident they are still alive because there is still air in the cave,' Mr Kengkard added. The rescue operation has faced obstacles including sand and gravel, strong water flows, and a narrow underwater section only about 50cm wide. Separate teams are exploring alternative access points above and around the mountain.
Mr Kengkard described the passage as requiring crawling and tilting at a 45-degree angle through sharp rocks. Thai technician Jakkrit Taengtang noted that rescuers had to stay overnight due to a 5km hike through rugged terrain, adding: 'The difficulty of this operation depends on the rain. We had to retreat earlier because of the water level rising.'
