People trapped in a cave are found alive by rescue workers in Xaisomboun Province, Laos, May 27, 2026, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. Norrased Palasing/via REUTERS
The seven Lao nationals entered the cave in central Laos's Xaisomboun province last week to look for gold, but a landslide triggered by heavy rain blocked their exit, according to a local volunteer group and the state-run Lao Phattha News.
At least five have been found alive so far, but none of them has yet been rescued from the chambers of the cave.
"We need to borrow as many oxygen tanks as possible and want to set up an oxygen refilling station in front of the cave," Kengkard Bongkawong wrote on social media.
Volunteer groups gave differing accounts of how many of the stricken divers had been located.
Two rescue workers say that they have found five of the people who were trapped in a cave alive, in Xaisomboun Province, Laos, May 27, 2026, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. Norrased Palasing/via REUTERS
Thai volunteer groups said on Wednesday that five had been found while the Laos "Rescue Volunteer for People" organisation said all seven had been located and were safe.
The reports could not immediately be verified.
Thai volunteers joined the rescue operation on Sunday, including a diver who took part in the 2018 rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in northern Thailand.
That operation drew global attention and involved British and other foreign divers, U.S. military personnel and other international support.
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