Four Miners Rescued From Flooded Laos Cave After Ten Days Trapped in Xaysomboun Province

Four miners have been freed from a flooded cave in Laos' central Xaysomboun province, a day after another man was rescued. The group was among seven villagers who entered the narrow cave system on 20 May in search of gold, becoming trapped when flash floods inundated the tunnels.

Rescuers located five men alive on Wednesday, but two individuals are still unaccounted for. The cave system is noted for its extreme narrowness, with some passages measuring only 50cm wide, complicating rescue efforts.

The latest four men were successfully brought to safety on Saturday afternoon. Initial plans to pump out the floodwaters proved ineffective, leading to discussions about training the trapped men to scuba dive their way out.

The operation drew specialist divers from Thailand, Indonesia, France, and Australia. Unverified video footage posted by a Thai rescuer showed cheers as the men emerged, with one smiling and others embracing their rescuers. The rescued individuals were then provided with medical attention.