Thai-based cave divers have joined international efforts to rescue seven villagers trapped in a flooded gold mining cave in remote Laos after days of heavy rain cut off access underground.
International rescue teams are battling floodwater, strong currents and low oxygen levels to reach seven villagers trapped in a remote cave in Laos.
Experienced divers Mikko Paasi and Norrased Palasing, who took part in the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue in northern Thailand, arrived at the site on Monday (25 May) to assist the operation.
The villagers became stranded in Xaisomboun province on Tuesday (19 May) when intense rainfall sent water rushing into the cave and blocked the entrance.
Authorities said the men had gone more than 100 metres underground to search for gold ore. They are understood to have been working independently in artisanal or small-scale mining and were not part of an official mining company.
Three of the men managed to escape as conditions deteriorated and alerted authorities, triggering an urgent rescue response at the remote site.
Lao authorities deployed soldiers, police officers, medical workers, administrative officials and local volunteers to support the mission. Thai and Chinese rescue teams were also assisting, while diving teams from Finland were expected to join the search.
Rescuers have reportedly trekked for up to two hours through mountainous terrain to reach the cave entrance. Footage from the scene showed water being pumped from the cave as the rescue effort continued.
Rescue teams described conditions inside the cave as dangerous, with confined spaces, strong currents, narrow passages and concerns over oxygen levels slowing efforts to reach the trapped villagers.
Water pumps were installed to help drain the cave, but continued rainfall has hampered progress and raised fears of further flooding.
One emergency worker said the first attempt on the second day of the operation had failed after heavy overnight rain caused soil to build up near the area where the trapped men were believed to be located.
Officials hope the experience of Paasi and Norrased in difficult underground rescue missions could help advance efforts to reach the villagers.
The operation has drawn comparisons with the Tham Luang cave rescue in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand, where 12 young footballers were rescued in 2018 after spending 18 days underground.
The rescue operation remained under way as teams worked to lower water levels and find a safe route through the blocked passages.
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