Five people found alive after week trapped in flooded Laos cave

Five Found Alive After Week Trapped in Flooded Laos Cave

Rescue workers in northern Laos have pulled five villagers to safety after they spent seven days trapped inside a cave that became flooded during heavy monsoon rains, in a dramatic operation that captivated the Southeast Asian nation.

The group — three men and two women ranging in age from 19 to 54 — had entered the cave system in Luang Prabang province to collect bat guano, a traditional practice used for fertilizer. When torrential rain caused water levels to rise rapidly, they were forced deeper into the cave network, eventually finding shelter on a natural ledge above the floodwater.

The rescue operation involved more than 200 personnel, including military divers, medical teams, and international cave rescue specialists who flew in from Thailand. The effort drew comparisons to the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue in neighboring Thailand, where 12 boys and their football coach were trapped for 18 days — though this operation was completed far more rapidly due to improved regional coordination and equipment.

Rescuers faced challenging conditions: zero visibility in murky floodwater, narrow passages barely wide enough for a person to squeeze through, and the constant risk of further rainfall raising water levels again. Dive teams worked in rotating shifts, establishing guide lines through the submerged sections to create a safe path for the survivors' extraction.

The five survivors were reported to be in stable condition after receiving treatment for dehydration, hypothermia, and minor injuries. Two additional villagers who had been with the group remain missing, and search operations are continuing. Authorities have warned local communities to exercise extreme caution when entering caves during the monsoon season, which typically runs from May to October.

The incident has renewed calls for better safety education and emergency preparedness in rural communities where cave systems are both a livelihood resource and a hazard. Provincial officials announced plans to install early warning systems at known cave entrances and to train local rescue volunteers in basic cave rescue techniques.

Source: BBC News — Five people found alive after week trapped in flooded Laos cave