XAYSOMBOUN, Laos – Thai and Finnish cave diving experts have joined a rescue operation in Laos to save seven villagers trapped inside a flooded cave for six days, encountering extremely narrow passages and low oxygen levels, rescuers said. The search operation entered its sixth day on Tuesday for the seven locals trapped inside a cave in Long Cheng district, Xaysomboun province. The group had entered the cave to search for gold ore and hunt wildlife before heavy rains triggered flash floods, blocking the entrance. The incident began on May 20 when eight villagers traveled to the site, located about one kilometer from their village. They descended into the cave, which is over 100 meters deep with a narrow, multi-tiered entrance and hazardous terrain.
One survivor reported that he had reached the fourth level of the cave, about 40 to 50 meters from the entrance, when he noticed heavy rain and a rapid influx of water. He managed to swim out to alert local authorities, leaving seven others trapped deeper inside. On Monday, two Thailand-based cave diving experts, Naset Palasing and Finnish national Mikko Paasi—both veterans of the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue—arrived at the site to assist local rescue teams.
According to a midday update from the Thailand Rescue Diver group on Monday night, the two divers conducted an initial reconnaissance of the cave. They reported that the passages were exceptionally narrow, requiring them to crawl flat on their stomachs. The divers reached a flooded section and attempted a dive up to a depth of five meters through a highly confined space. However, they were forced to retreat due to a lack of breathable oxygen. Rescuers noted that if they can pass through this bottleneck, they will reach a wider chamber, but they must first re-evaluate their strategy due to the air supply issue. Local rescue coordinators have issued an urgent appeal for high-power water pumps, 600 meters of hose, and medium-sized oxygen tanks to support the ongoing operation. (TNA)
