There is new hope in a dramatic rescue operation for seven gold prospectors trapped in a flooded cave in Laos.
May 27, 2026, 06:25May 27, 2026, 06:25
The rescuers said they had worked their way to within 20 meters of the men’s suspected location. The water levels in the cave have now fallen significantly, the news portal “Thai Enquirer” quoted Thai operations coordinator Kengkaj Bangkaowong.
Several international specialists take part in rescuing the gold seekers trapped in a cave.Image: keystone
The government in Laos had asked Thailand for help – also because of the experience of Thai emergency services in the internationally acclaimed rescue of a youth football team from the Tham Luang Cave in 2018.
Rescue teams from the neighboring country arrived at the scene of the accident in the northern province of Xaisomboun at the weekend. The Finnish cave diver Mikko Paasi and his Thai colleague Norrased Palasing, who were already involved in the spectacular rescue in Tham Luang, are also supporting the mission.
Rescuers crawl and dive
Meanwhile, the special forces continued to work their way through narrow and partly completely flooded tunnels. In some cases the divers had to crawl on their stomachs or knees and dive through narrow underwater passages, said Kengkaj.
The seven men have been stuck in the cave in Longchaeng district for more than a week. The area is characterized by rugged mountains and dense jungle and is located about 130 kilometers northeast of the capital Vientiane. A total of ten villagers had penetrated the cave system to dig for gold. Three escaped and seven were trapped after heavy rains and a landslide. (sda/dpa)