Rescuers Work to Drain Flooded Laos Cave to Free 5 Villagers

Rescue Efforts Continue at Xaisomboun Cave

Rescuers from Laos and Thailand worked on Friday to drain water from a flooded cave in Xaisomboun Province, about 120 kilometers north of Vientiane, where five villagers have been trapped since May 19. Overnight rainstorms complicated the pumping operations at the low-lying cave entrance. Search teams continue looking for two additional missing persons reported since the group entered on May 20 to examine rocks and sand with unusual colors.

Five Villagers Found Safe After Eight Days

On Wednesday, Thai cave diver Norrased Palasing and Finnish diving instructor Miiko Paasi located the five men identified by their first names as Khamla, Mued, Ee, Ing, and Laen. The men sat on a rock wearing headlamps, surrounded by floodwater, and appeared exhausted from dehydration but otherwise in good health. Divers later delivered soft food and water, and the men delivered recorded messages to their families.

Emotional Messages Reach Families in Laos

In video footage, one man named Mued told his parents, "Don't worry mom, dad. I'm still strong, I'm still healthy. Tomorrow I will be home. I love you mom and dad." The group had foraged for a living in the mountainous area around Longcheng district and entered the cave hoping to extract what they believed might be gold deposits. An eighth person escaped earlier and alerted authorities.

Thai and International Teams Draw on 2018 Experience

Rescue Volunteer for People coordinated with Thai groups including Metta Tham Rescue Kalasin, whose leader Kengkaj Bongkawong confirmed that divers from Indonesia, Japan, and France were en route. Several Thai participants had previously taken part in the 2018 rescue of 12 schoolboys and their coach from Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai Province. A Malaysian diver also joined the current operation on site.

Shared Thai-Lao Bonds Strengthen Cross-Border Aid

The close cooperation between Thai and Lao rescuers reflects longstanding community ties across the Mekong region, where families often maintain connections on both sides of the border. Thai readers recognize the same spirit of volunteer service seen during the 2018 Tham Luang operation, reminding communities in Kalasin and Chiang Rai how expertise gained at home now supports neighbors in need. This joint effort highlights practical solidarity rooted in shared cultural values of compassion and mutual support during times of hardship.