Rescuers free four villagers trapped in flooded Laos cave

breakingnews.ie

Rescue workers in Laos said they have safely evacuated four villagers trapped in a flooded cave for 10 days, a day after another one was successfully extracted.

Lao and Thai rescue groups posted about the successful operation on social media, along with photos of the men lying on stretchers, wearing oxygen masks and being wrapped in foil blankets.

The villagers had reportedly entered the cave last week to look for valuable minerals before being trapped by flash flooding that blocked their way out.

Rescuers working in the flooded cave in Xaisomboun province, Laos (Metta Tham Rescue Kalasin via AP)

One other villager escaped in time and alerted the authorities to the seven left behind.

Two people remain unlocated.