Five trapped villagers found alive in flooded Laos cave, search continues for two missing

Five villagers trapped for about a week inside a flooded cave in central Laos were found alive on Wednesday, 27 May 2026, as Lao and Thai rescue teams continued efforts to extract the survivors and search for two others still missing.

The villagers were discovered inside a cave near Long Tieng valley in Long Chaeng district, Xaysomboun province, after heavy rain and flooding sealed access to the cave system linked to gold mining activity. The seven villagers are believed to have been trapped since 19 May.

“As of 4:30 p.m. (0930 GMT), we found five people. We will continue to search for the other two,” said Kengkad Bongkawong, head of the Thai rescue team.

According to Thailand Rescue Diver’s Facebook page, the five survivors were found alive and in good condition. Rescue teams said operations were continuing to locate the remaining two villagers.

The villagers reportedly broke down in tears when they saw the rescuers and raised their hands in a wai gesture to thank the team.

Khaosod reported that rescuers surfaced into a chamber inside the cave and found the five villagers gathered together. An initial assessment found they were exhausted and hungry after days underground but not seriously ill.

The discovery triggered emotional reactions among the rescue personnel. According to Khaosod, team members hugged each other and shouted in relief, with some saying they could hardly believe they had managed to reach the survivors.

Mikko Paasi, a Finnish cave diver involved in the operation, wrote on Instagram: “What a feeling!!!! ❤️ After a week of hard team work we finally found 5 of the missing 7 miners that got trapped in a Laotian flooded mine.”

“This is only a brief relief as the 5 survivors are still in the terminal chamber, all healthy and in good spirits, but the extraction is still ahead and it ain’t going to be easy,” he added.

Paasi said he and Thai diver “Benz Scout” would return to the cave to deliver additional supplies to the survivors to help prepare them for extraction.

Rescue operation involving Lao and Thai teams

Rescue efforts have involved Lao authorities, volunteer associations and specialist cave-diving teams from Thailand.

The search operation began after the incident was reported on 20 May. Other reports said the group had entered the cave on 19 May to search for gold before flash flooding blocked the exit. One person reportedly escaped before the entrance was sealed and alerted authorities.

Organisations involved in the rescue effort include the Association of Volunteers for Lao People, the Saijai Lao 1666 Foundation, the Saithan Association of Thailand, the Mettatham Association from Thailand’s Kalasin province, and the Jai Teung Jai Association of Vientiane Capital.

The Thai rescue operation has been led by Kengkad Bongkawong of the Metta Tham Kalasin Command and Control Centre, together with Thai cave-diving specialist Naraset Palasingh and Finnish diver Mikko Paasi.

Reuters reported that a Thai volunteer team joined the operation on Sunday, including divers linked to the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue in northern Thailand, which drew international attention.

Difficult conditions hamper extraction efforts

Rescue teams said the operation has been complicated by submerged chambers, narrow passages and unstable rock formations inside the cave system.

The Laotian Times reported that some tunnels measured only 50 centimetres across, while persistent rainfall repeatedly raised water levels and forced temporary suspensions of rescue activities.

At 7:07 a.m. on Wednesday, rescuers, officials and villagers reportedly held a traditional blessing ceremony before re-entering the cave. Offerings including chickens, incense and drinks were presented in accordance with local spiritual customs.

Dive teams later resumed operations in the afternoon to reach deeper sections of the cave where the trapped villagers were believed to be located.

Authorities and rescue teams are now planning how to safely extract the five survivors while continuing the search for the remaining two missing villagers.

Around 100 people have reportedly been involved in the operation near the site, located about 125 kilometres north-east of Vientiane. Emergency medical teams, ambulances and equipment have also been deployed near the cave in preparation for the survivors’ evacuation.

The Laotian Times reported that engineers and geologists had warned that the Xaysomboun cave system was more fragile than Thailand’s Tham Luang cave, citing weaker rock layers, higher water retention and increased collapse risks during heavy rain.