Villagers missing in flooded Laos cave for more than a week found alive, rescuers say

Bounkham Luanglath of the Laotian organization Rescue Volunteer for People, which has been working closely with local authorities in the rescue efforts, told The Associated Press that five people were found safe and alive, but two were still missing and the search for them would continue.

“I’m still shaking. Our team made it happen,” he said in a voice message.

A video posted by a Thai rescue group involved in the mission appeared to show the moment divers emerged from the water and discovered the trapped villagers.

The footage showed villagers sitting on a rock surrounded by floodwaters.

Other videos showed rescuers inside and outside the cave cheering, jumping around and hugging each other in joy after the discovery.

The cave is located in a rugged, remote area in the Longcheng district of Xaisomboun province, about 120 kilometers north of the capital Vientiane.

Rescue workers on the ground have detailed on social media the challenging mountainous terrain and heavy rains that have hampered their work.

Videos shared online by Thai rescuers show that reaching the cave entrance requires a steep hike of about four kilometers.

The entrance is also steep and rocky, and barely wide enough for one person at a time to climb through.

There is no official confirmation as to why the villagers entered the cave.

However, Bounkham has said the cave was visited by local residents looking for gold, even though authorities had repeatedly warned them not to enter the cave due to security concerns.