Rescue teams in Laos have found five of the seven people who became trapped inside a flooded cave system alive after an intensive search operation, authorities confirmed on Tuesday. The group had reportedly entered the cave during heavy rainfall before rising water levels cut off their exit route.
According to local emergency officials, rescuers located the survivors deep inside the cave after hours of difficult navigation through narrow and partially submerged passages. Medical teams were immediately deployed to assess their condition while efforts continued to reach the remaining two missing individuals.
Authorities said the rescue mission involved divers, military personnel, and local volunteers working in challenging conditions caused by poor visibility and strong water currents inside the cave system.
Officials have not yet disclosed the identities of those rescued but confirmed that all five were conscious when found. Emergency crews are reportedly providing food, water, and oxygen supplies as preparations continue for a safe extraction from the cave.
The incident has drawn comparisons to the famous 2018 Thailand cave rescue, where a youth football team and their coach were dramatically saved after being trapped underground for more than two weeks. Rescue experts say sudden flooding remains one of the biggest dangers in Southeast Asia’s cave systems during the rainy season.
Search operations for the remaining two missing people are ongoing as authorities monitor weather conditions and water levels around the cave area.
