Thai rescuers say five people have been pulled alive from a flooded cave in remote Laos, where seven villagers became trapped after heavy rain cut off access underground.
Rescuers brought four people out of the cave in Xaisomboun province on Saturday, hours after another man was rescued on Friday night.
The seven villagers entered the cave on May 20 to search for gold ore, but became trapped after heavy rain caused flooding and blocked the exit.
Five of the men were found alive on Wednesday, more than a week after they entered the cave, while two others remain missing.
Rescue effort widens
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 international divers joined the operation as efforts widened.
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.
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 teams worked to lower water levels and find a safe route through the blocked passages.
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 remaining missing villagers.
Water pumps were installed to help drain the cave, but continued rainfall has hampered progress and raised fears of further flooding.
The operation has drawn comparisons with the Tham Luang cave rescue in Chiang Rai, Thailand, in 2018, when 12 young footballers and their coach were rescued after spending 18 days underground.
The rescue operation remains under way as teams continue searching for the two others, who remain missing.
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