Rescue teams in central Laos have confirmed that five villagers trapped inside a flooded cave for more than a week have been found alive, while search operations continue for two others still missing. The group entered a cave in Xaisomboun province on May 19, but heavy rainfall triggered flash floods that quickly blocked the exit, trapping all seven individuals inside. The incident has prompted a large-scale rescue operation involving Lao and Thai emergency teams, including experienced cave divers.

Officials from Rescue Volunteer for People, a Lao organisation assisting local authorities, said the discovery of the survivors brought a wave of relief to the rescue teams. A senior member of the group described the moment as overwhelming, saying, “I’m still shaking. Our team made it happen.” Videos shared by Thai rescue teams showed divers emerging inside the cave and locating the trapped villagers, who were seen sitting on rocks surrounded by floodwater.

Each villager was reportedly equipped with a headlamp, helping them survive in near-total darkness. Additional footage from the site showed rescuers celebrating both inside and outside the cave after the discovery, with teams cheering, hugging, and expressing visible relief at the breakthrough. The rescue effort has been complicated by difficult terrain and continuous rainfall. The cave is located in a remote mountainous region of Longcheng district, approximately 120 kilometres north of the capital, Vientiane.

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Reaching the site itself requires a steep four-kilometre trek, followed by a narrow and hazardous entry point into the cave system. Divers from Thailand and other countries involved in the operation include personnel with experience from the high-profile 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue, where 12 schoolboys and their football coach were successfully extracted after being trapped for over two weeks.

Authorities have not issued a formal confirmation on why the villagers entered the cave. However, local rescue officials have indicated that such caves in the region are occasionally visited by residents searching for gold, despite repeated warnings due to the extreme safety risks, particularly during the monsoon season. Search operations for the two missing villagers remain ongoing, with rescue teams continuing to work through challenging underground conditions and rising water levels in hopes of a full recovery.

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