May 28, 2026, 07:33May 28, 2026, 07:33
After five gold prospectors were discovered trapped in a flooded cave in Laos, rescue teams are working feverishly to get the men out of the mountain and find two more missing people. As the Laotian rescue organization Rescue Volunteer for People announced, the men found in the cave have now been provided with food and medicine. The rescue could begin later today.
Five gold prospectors were discovered alive in the cave.Image: keystone
The five gold seekers were discovered alive in the cave on Tuesday after more than a week. According to the emergency services, they are exhausted and hungry, but their condition is stable. The rescuers continued to pump out water to make the way out passable. It was also said that it was being checked whether water could penetrate again.
At the same time, local media reported in the morning (local time) that the other two men had also been found alive. There was initially no confirmation of this.
Difficult recovery
The rescue could prove extremely difficult, wrote Finnish cave diver Mikko Paasi on social networks. The expert had already supported the dramatic rescue operation for an trapped youth soccer team in the Tham Luang Cave in Thailand in 2018 and is once again at the forefront. A video he posted shows him fighting his way through extremely narrow cave passages with brown water in Laos – and finally finding the five trapped people.
The men have been in the cave in Longchaeng district in northern Xaisomboun province since May 19. A total of ten villagers had been searching for gold there when heavy rains suddenly flooded the cave and a landslide blocked the exit. Three of them were able to save themselves and raise the alarm. Seven have been stuck since then. For a long time it was unclear whether they were still alive.
According to media reports, the men carried enough supplies with them to survive in the cave for several days. In videos filmed by rescuers in the cave, at least two of them appeared to be wearing working headlamps.
Medical teams are ready
In the past few days, rescuers were often only able to crawl their way through extremely narrow passages and had to dive through narrow underwater passages. It was not initially known exactly how the gold seekers would be brought out of the cave.
According to the Lao rescue organization, medical teams are ready to treat the men immediately after they are rescued. Additional helpers are to be organized for transport from the difficult-to-access area, which is criss-crossed by mountains and jungles.
International specialists support the mission
The rescue mission reminds many of the world-famous Tham Luang cave drama in northern Thailand in 2018. At that time, twelve young footballers and their coach were trapped in a flooded cave for more than two weeks after heavy rain. Only an international rescue operation with special divers was able to free her. This time too, experienced cave divers are supporting the mission. Authorities in Laos had asked Thailand for help because of its experience with complex cave rescues. (dab/sda/dpa)