The search for seven people trapped in a cave in Laos reached its sixth day without rescue teams being able to establish contact with the group. Local authorities believe that the missing people are isolated in a deep compartment of the underground system, more than 100 meters from the main entrance.
The accident occurred after heavy rains hit the Long Gian region, in the Xaysomboun province, in Southeast Asia. According to local press, the group entered the cave on Wednesday (20) to look for gold when a sudden flood blocked the internal access.
The underground system is used for mining and ore transport and brings together narrow tunnels, partially flooded areas and corridors with limited circulation. At some points, rescuers have to crawl forward.
Images released by the Thailand Rescue Diver team show the complexity of the operation. The videos record divers crossing passages taken over by water, with low visibility and limited space for movement.
International teams reinforce operations
Laos asked Thailand for technical support to expand rescue work. Among the equipment sent are water pumps, generators and thermal cameras.
The operation brings together around 100 people, including divers specializing in caves. Part of the team worked to rescue young football players trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand in 2018.
Continues after advertising
Two Thai divers and a Finnish specialist based in the region are directly involved in the search within the underground system. According to the representative of Thailand Rescue Diver, Pond Jakkrit Tangtang, the rain continues to make it difficult for teams to advance and causes the water level to rise continuously.
“We need to sleep at the operation site because traveling up the mountain takes between one and two hours,” he said.
Authorities are trying to remove part of the accumulated water with pumps installed at the entrance to the cave, but have not yet managed to open a safe corridor to the point where the group would be trapped.
The structure of the cave also makes communication and monitoring of the interior difficult. So far, rescuers have not confirmed signs of life in the missing group.
The region where the operation takes place is in a mountainous and remote area of Laos, which increases the logistical difficulty in transporting equipment and bringing in specialized teams.
