Bangkok: Lao Survivors who were rescued after being trapped in a cave in Laos for several days have met and spoken with the Thai rescuers who risked their lives to bring them to safety. Norrased Palasing’s Facebook page posted a still image last night showing Laotian rescuers, who had been trapped in a cave in Laos for several days, meeting and talking with the Thai rescuers who risked their lives to safely bring them out. The image is of the rescuers receiving treatment in a hospital.
According to Thai News Agency, the latest update yesterday is that rescue teams were able to bring out four more villagers trapped inside a flooded cave in Laos, after rescuing the first survivor last Friday. This leaves only two victims still missing, even though 10 days have passed since the incident. Seven villagers entered a cave located in a remote mountainous area of Xaysomboun Province in central Laos last Wednesday. Heavy rains caused flash flooding, blocking the cave’s exit. Rescue teams found the first five survivors on Wednesday, who were taking shelter in a narrow passage about 300 meters from the cave entrance.
To date, two people remain missing. Authorities are urgently pumping out floodwater that has blocked the cave entrance. Survivors say the two missing men have walked approximately 500 meters deeper into the cave than where they were previously located, and their fate remains unknown. However, the head of the Thai rescue operation in Laos stated that the rescue team will intensify the search for the remaining two, while their families await rescue efforts outside the cave.
Recently, a Chinese company was contacted to bring in a rescue team to explore inside the mine in search of water sources and drainage systems. Experts in cave hydrology, cave geology, and groundwater systems are being prepared to assist in planning the operation. In addition, Lao authorities have brought in machinery to level roads to facilitate travel and the transport of equipment.