Race to save seven people trapped in flooded cave in Laos

Rescuers are racing against time to reach seven people trapped in a cave in central Laos since last week.

A group of villagers in Xaisomboun province entered the cave on May 19 to look for gold, but heavy rain caused flash flooding that blocked the exit, according to rescue teams from Laos and Thailand involved in the operation.

Bounkham Luanglath, leader of the Laos Rescue Volunteer for People, told The Associated Press that one of the people from the group escaped before the exit was blocked and alerted authorities.

The status of the seven people in custody remains unknown.

He said the cave is a narrow chamber often visited by villagers looking for gold deposits.

He said authorities had repeatedly warned people not to enter the cave for safety reasons.

State-run Lao National Radio reported that Thai rescuers arrived on the scene on Sunday for help.

Divers have since begun navigating flooded parts of the cave to the area where they believe the group is trapped.

Laos’ Foreign Ministry declined to comment.

The Southeast Asian country is a one-party communist state with no organized opposition and the government often keeps a close eye on information.