Five trapped Laos miners escape flooded cave after 10 days; two still missing
Five trapped men free themselves from flooded Laos cave after 10-day ordeal, two remain missing
Five of seven men trapped in a flooded cave in central Laos escaped on their own Saturday afternoon, emerging after 10 days underground without assistance from rescue teams. The group, who entered the cave in search of gold, had been stranded by rising water levels since May 20, according to local authorities cited by AFP . Their self-rescue came as an unexpected turn in a high-stakes operation that had mobilized international rescue teams.
Two men from the group remain unaccounted for, officials confirmed. Earlier reports indicated that four of the five rescued men were freed by rescuers, but later accounts clarified that all five escaped independently, walking out of the cave’s main entrance around 3:00 PM local time . Video footage showed the men collapsing in exhaustion and relief as they emerged, their faces gaunt from dehydration and hunger .
The cave, located in Laos’ Khammouane Province, is part of a network of subterranean tunnels and sinkholes known for illegal gold mining. Heavy seasonal rains flooded sections of the cave, cutting off the group’s exit. Rescue efforts had focused on pumping water out of the cave and drilling alternative escape routes, but the men’s sudden reappearance suggests they found a dry passage or waited for water levels to recede .
Search teams continue to comb the cave for the two missing men, though officials have not ruled out the possibility they may have perished. The incident has reignited debates over the dangers of unregulated mining in Laos’ karst landscapes, where sinkholes and sudden flooding are common hazards. In 2023, a similar cave collapse in the same province trapped 13 miners for over a week before they were rescued.
Five trapped Laos miners escape flooded cave after 10 days; two still missing
- hvg.hu
- aljazeera
- adevarul
- courrier international
- svenska dagbladet
Articles
Fyra lyckades rädda sig själva ur grottan Det har varit en kamp mot klockan. I tio dagar har sju män suttit fast i en grotta i Laos. Nu har fem av dem räddats, efter en komplicerad räddningsinsats. På lördagseftermiddagen lyckades de själva ta sig ut utan räddningsarbetarnas hjälp.
svenska dagbladet · 7 days ago
Zece zile de coșmar în subteran: cinci dintre bărbații blocați în peștera inundată din Laos au fost salvați. Alţi doi sunt dispăruţi Cinci bărbaţi au fost salvaţi după ce au rămas blocaţi timp de zece zile într-o grotă din Laos, în timp ce alţi doi membri ai grupului sunt în continuare daţi dispăruţi, au anunţat autorităţile locale, citate de AFP.
adevarul · 7 days ago
Hat autó ütközött az M1-es autópályán Bicskénél A sérültekhez mentő érkezett, az autópálya érintett szakaszát a Hegyeshalom felé vezető oldalon lezárták.
hvg.hu · 7 days ago
Laos cave rescue ends unexpectedly after villagers free themselves
news.yahoo.com · 7 days ago
Clipe de groază pentru 8 elevi blocați la peste 30 de metri înălțime, într-un montagne russe din Texas Opt elevi aflați într-o excursie școlară au rămas suspendați joi seara, la aproape 30 de metri înălțime, după ce montagne russe‑ul Iron Shark din parcul Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier s‑a oprit brusc în timpul ascensiunii verticale.
adevarul · 7 days ago
Ils seffondrent de joie et dépuisement : cinq Laotiens piégés dans une mine inondée en sortent sains et saufs Partis chercher de lor, sept hommes étaient coincés depuis dix jours dans une mine inondée du centre du Laos. Cinq dentre eux en sont sortis sains et saufs alors que des secouristes du monde entier sont mobilisés.
courrier international · 8 days ago
Graves of teenage drowning victims vandalised in Oulu Three of the graves belonged to youths who drowned last summer.
yle.fi · 8 days ago
Rescuers free four more men from flooded Laos cave, two still missing Five of seven men who entered cave seeking gold are now out after being trapped for 10 days.
aljazeera · 8 days ago
Sinkhole repairs complete by end of June - council
news.yahoo.com · 8 days ago
Three climbers die and one rescued after fall on Alaskas Mount McKinley Four were part of seven-person group that had traveled to US to ascend North Americas tallest mountainThree people have died after falling while climbing Alaskas Mount McKinley, according to officials. A fourth climber has been rescued.The four were part of a seven-person group that had traveled to the United States to ascend Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, North Americas tallest mountain, according to information released by the Latvian Mountaineering Association. Continue reading...
theguardian · 8 days ago