A Finnish cave diver has described the 'emotional' and 'overwhelming' moment when five villagers were found alive inside a flooded gold mine in Laos. The group had been trapped for over a week after torrential rains flooded the remote cave complex in Xaysomboun province.
Mikko Paasi, part of the international rescue mission, told ABC News: 'That was an emotional moment... we believed they were still alive, but the odds were quite low.' He recalled seeing the villagers 'sitting there all grey and all pale but in good spirits,' adding that there were 'tears, big smiles from both sides.'
Despite the joy of the discovery, rescuers face significant challenges in extracting the survivors. Kengkard Bongkawong, who participated in the 2018 Thai cave rescue, noted the need to navigate an extremely narrow passage, including a 27-metre fully submerged section. He warned of dangers such as running out of air or getting stuck, and highlighted the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas from bat droppings, which has already caused some crew members to faint.
Paasi described the cave conditions as extremely tight, requiring divers to 'wriggle through like a worm' and exhale to fit through gaps. He noted that divers need to be slim, under 60-70 kg, and mentally tough. The rescue operation is set to receive additional support from divers from Australia, Japan, France, Indonesia, and Thailand.
One of the trapped men, named Ing, reassured his mother: 'Don't worry, Mom. The rescue team has reached us now. We're safe.' Rescuers are working to set up oxygen refilling stations and prepare stretchers for the extraction, which is expected to take place over the coming days.
