Xaisomboun province

A Laos cave survivor described being trapped for over a week in a flooded cave with six other Lao nationals who had entered to prospect for gold. The group was rescued after rising water blocked their exit in Xaisomboun province on May 30, 2026.

Rescuers in Laos are searching for an alternative route to reach two missing people trapped in a flooded cave after heavy rainfall blocked the main entrance. Five of seven initially trapped individuals have been rescued, with international teams including divers from Thailand, Malaysia, and other countries working to lower water levels and find dry passages.

Rescuers are working to save the last two men among seven people trapped in a cave in Xaisomboun Province, Laos. The incident was captured in a handout image released on May 25, 2026 by Metta Tham Kalasin Rescue via Reuters.

Rescuers in Laos are searching for an alternative route to reach two missing individuals trapped in a flooded cave in Xaisomboun province after heavy rainfall blocked the main entrance. Five of the seven initially trapped people have been rescued, with international teams including divers from Thailand, Malaysia, and other countries working to lower water levels and identify dry passages.

Rescuers in Laos are searching for an alternative route to reach two missing individuals trapped in a flooded cave after heavy rainfall blocked the main entrance. Five of the seven initially trapped people have been rescued, with international teams from Thailand, Malaysia, and other countries working to lower water levels and locate a dry passage.

Rescuers in Laos are searching for an alternative route to reach two missing people trapped in a flooded cave in Xaisomboun province. Five of the seven initially trapped individuals have been rescued, with international teams including Thailand, Malaysia, and others assisting. The villagers entered the cave to search for valuable minerals before being trapped by a flash flood.

Five men trapped in a flooded cave in Xaisomboun province, Laos, after searching for gold, successfully rescued themselves following a water-pumping operation. Their unexpected escape surprised rescuers, but two other villagers remain missing deeper in the cave system.

Heavy rains in Laos are delaying the search for two people missing in a flooded cave, where five others were recently rescued after being trapped for over a week. International rescuers, including divers from Finland, Malaysia, and Thailand, are working to lower water levels and locate the remaining individuals in a narrow crack leading to a potential sixth chamber.

Rain threatens to delay the search for two people missing in a flooded cave in Xaisomboun province, Laos. Rescuers are working in the affected area, but weather conditions may hinder efforts.

Rescuers in Laos have freed four villagers trapped in a flooded cave for 10 days, with two still missing. The operation involved international teams from Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, and others, as the villagers had entered the cave to search for minerals before being blocked by flash flooding.

Rescuers in Laos are draining a flooded cave to free five villagers trapped for over a week and search for two missing individuals. International teams from Thailand, Malaysia, and other countries are collaborating on the rescue, which involves navigating narrow, flooded passages in Xaisomboun province. The villagers entered the cave seeking gold deposits.

Rescue teams in Laos have located five of the seven Lao nationals trapped in a cave in Xaisomboun province after a landslide blocked their exit. The incident occurred when the group entered the cave last week.

Five villagers were found alive after being trapped in a flooded cave for over a week in Xaisomboun Province, Laos. Rescuers confirmed their survival and ongoing efforts to save all seven people involved.

Five villagers trapped in a flooded cave in Xaisomboun province, Laos, for over a week were found alive by rescuers, though two remain missing. The cave flooding occurred after heavy rains, and international rescue teams, including divers from Thailand's 2018 cave rescue operation, are assisting in the effort.

Five villagers found alive after being trapped in a flooded cave in central Laos for over a week, as rescue teams continue searching for two missing individuals. Heavy rain caused flash flooding that blocked the cave exit on May 19.

Seven villagers are trapped in a flooded cave in Xaisomboun province, Laos, after heavy rains blocked their exit. Rescuers from Laos and Thailand are navigating challenging terrain and pumping water to locate the group, believed to be mining for gold despite safety warnings.