Rescuers Pull Five From Flooded Cave in Laos, Two Still Missing

Rescue teams in Laos have successfully brought five men to safety after they were trapped in a flooded cave for more than a week, but two of their companions remain missing, according to multiple reports from the scene.

The first man was extracted late on Friday night, followed by four more on Saturday, Thai volunteer rescuers said in Facebook posts cited by news agencies. The men, all Lao nationals, entered the cave in the central province of Xaisomboun to prospect for gold, but a flash flood blocked their exit, leaving seven trapped inside.

Another villager who escaped in time alerted authorities to the seven men still inside, triggering a complex international rescue effort.

The rescue operation involved teams from Laos and neighboring Thailand, joined by divers and experts from Finland, France, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, and Australia, according to reports from the Associated Press and Deutsche Welle. Some participants had previously been involved in the dramatic 2018 rescue at Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand, which saved 12 boys and their soccer coach.

Rescue Effort Marked by Difficult Conditions

The cave system, described by rescuers as narrow, twisting, and flooded, with jagged walls, posed significant challenges. Divers had to navigate dark, unfamiliar passages, racing against time and weather.

After locating the five men on Wednesday, rescuers supplied them with water, soft food, and foil blankets to keep them warm while awaiting extraction. Reports from the scene said the men were found in good health but exhausted from dehydration and lack of food.

Video footage from volunteer rescuers showed the four men brought out on Saturday with flashlights strapped to their heads and muddy clothes, displaying joyful expressions, with some crying with relief, according to the Associated Press.

The first man rescued on Friday had to be assisted as he walked out of the cave and was taken for a medical check. He was greeted by a crowd of onlookers, as reported by Deutsche Welle.

Two Men Still Missing, Hopes Fading

Despite the successful rescues, two men remain missing. Rescue teams have searched around 95% of the tunnel system without finding them, according to Finnish cave diver Mikko Paasi, who spoke to ThaiPBS World.

"We don't have many places left to search," Paasi said, as quoted by Deutsche Welle. The sentiment was echoed by other rescuers, who acknowledged that hopes of finding the two men alive were fading.

A Thai rescue diver, Kengkard Bongkawong, confirmed in a Facebook post on Saturday that all four trapped people had emerged from the cave, but did not indicate any further progress on the missing pair.

Pumping Operations Complicated by Weather and Equipment Issues

The rescue effort was complicated by the need to pump water out of the cave to lower levels and allow the men to exit. Reports indicated that the first two rescues on Friday and Saturday were made possible by rescuers pumping out water, but conditions were not always favorable.

A morning rainstorm on Friday complicated pumping efforts, according to a report from the Associated Press. Additionally, a Japanese rescue diver, Yoshitaka Isaji, told the AP on Sunday that the passage used in Saturday's rescue was currently impassable because a drainage pump had broken, though repair efforts were ongoing.

Earlier in the week, a plan to pump water from the tunnels had also failed, according to reports.

The cave is located in a rugged area about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the capital, Vientiane.

International Coordination and Ongoing Search

International coordination has been praised as a key factor in the rescue success so far. The volunteer group Sai Than Association from Thailand was among those at the scene, with its members posting updates on Facebook, as reported by the Associated Press.

The five men rescued so far are all reported to be in stable condition and receiving medical attention. Rescue officials have said they will continue searching for the two missing men, despite the diminishing odds.

The operation remains ongoing, with weather and equipment conditions central to the next steps. While the successful rescues are a relief to families and officials, the fate of the two missing men continues to weigh on the mission.

As the search enters its next phase, rescuers are focusing on the remaining unexplored sections of the cave, though time and conditions are not on their side.