27.05.2026 20:00
Five of seven people who had been trapped since May 20 in a cave in the Southeast Asian country of Laos while searching for treasure were rescued alive. Search efforts continue for the two missing individuals.
Five of the seven people who had been trapped in a cave in Laos since May 20 while searching for treasure were rescued alive. Search efforts continue for the two missing individuals.
FIVE PEOPLE IN THE CAVE RESCUED
Good news came from the treasure hunters trapped in a cave in the Long Chaeng area of Laos's Xaisomboun province. In an operation conducted by Lao and Thai rescue teams, five of the seven people who had been trapped in the cave since May 20 were reached. In footage shared by rescue teams, the survivors were seen waiting on a rocky area inside the cave. The team, which had been carrying out rescue efforts under harsh weather and terrain conditions for seven days, experienced great joy after the operation. After reaching the trapped individuals, rescue teams first provided food and basic health support.
It was reported that rescue teams had been working for days to lower the water level inside the cave using high-capacity pumps and proceeded through narrow passages using safety ropes.
SEARCH EFFORTS FOR THE TWO MISSING PERSONS CONTINUE
Authorities announced that search efforts for the two people still missing in the cave are ongoing. It was noted that occasional heavy rains and water-filled narrow passages in the area have complicated the operation.
THEY ENTERED THE CAVE TO SEARCH FOR TREASURE
On May 20, eight treasure hunters in Thailand entered a cave to search for gold and hunt, but were caught by suddenly rising floodwaters. One of the group managed to swim out of the cave through the rising waters, while the other seven remained trapped inside.
EXPERT TEAM FROM THAILAND ARRIVED
A 24-person expert cave diving team from Thailand joined the rescue efforts at the request of Lao authorities. The team included divers who had participated in the "Tham Luang Cave" operation in Thailand in 2018, where 12 children were rescued and which captured global attention. Thai rescue teams stated that some parts of the cave were so narrow they could only be passed by crawling, with some passages narrowing to about 50 centimeters in width. It was reported that generators, high-capacity water pumps, air support systems, and life detection devices were used in the rescue operations.