Cave divers are navigating tight, water-filled passages in a high-risk rescue mission to reach seven villagers who have been trapped inside a cave in Laos for nearly a week.
The villagers entered a cave in Xaisomboun province in central Laos last Wednesday in search of gold, but heavy rainfall triggered flash floods that blocked their exit, according to the Associated Press, citing Lao and Thai rescue teams.
Two experienced Thai divers and a Finnish specialist who took part in the 2018 Thai cave rescue have joined the ongoing operation.
Authorities say the trapped group is believed to be stranded on “an elevated ledge inside the cave that benefits from continuous airflow,” according to the state-run Lao News Agency.
Rescuers must pass through a narrow 340-meter (1,115-foot) tunnel to reach them, the Metta Tham Kalasin (MTK) Command and Control Center said, noting that sections of the passage are as tight as 60 centimeters (23 inches), forcing divers to crawl through parts of the system.
Helmets, breathing masks, and gas-monitoring devices are being used to track oxygen levels and detect toxic gases inside the cave. Officials also confirmed that cables have been installed through rock gaps to guide divers deeper into the system.
Footage shared by a Thai rescuer showed teams moving through submerged, dark caverns while efforts continue to pump out water and improve access.
Outside the cave, rope teams have been deployed to explore potential entry points from above. The MTK center said rescuers are rappelling into four identified shafts on the mountain in search of alternative routes.
The rescue is taking place near Long Tieng in Xaisomboun province, an area known for its rugged terrain and mineral deposits.
Authorities said the alarm was raised by one of the villagers who managed to escape before the entrance became fully submerged, according to Bounkham Luanglath, head of Laos’ Rescue Volunteer for People, as reported by AP.
Luanglath also noted that despite repeated warnings, locals often enter the cave to search for gold.
The operation has drawn comparisons to the 2018 Thai cave rescue in Chiang Rai, where 12 boys and their football coach were trapped for more than two weeks before being successfully rescued in a globally followed mission involving divers from several countries.
