Five Miners Rescued from Flooded Laos Cave

Five men are recovering in a hospital in central Laos this week, smiling and in good spirits after spending more than a week trapped deep inside a flooded cave.

The villagers entered an abandoned mine in Laos's Xaisomboun province around June 20 to search for gold. Monsoon rains triggered flash flooding and landslides that blocked their exit, trapping them 350 meters from the cave mouth.

Rescue teams found the men on Wednesday after they'd been missing for a week. Finnish diver Mikko Passi and Thai diver Norrased "Benz" Palasing navigated through narrow, flooded sections to reach them. Both divers worked on the famous 2018 Thai soccer team cave rescue that captivated the world.

The first villager escaped Friday evening in a daring rescue that involved guiding him through flooded passages with a breathing regulator. The remaining four emerged Saturday evening after rescue teams spent days pumping water from the tunnel to drain it.

South Australian cave diver Josh Richards was preparing to bring the trapped men supplies when they walked out. Photos posted by a Laos rescue volunteer group show emotional family reunions and the men sitting upright in hospital beds, receiving fluids through IV drips.

The Bright Side

This rescue showcases the power of international cooperation and expertise coming together for good. The same divers who saved the Thai soccer team in 2018 immediately offered their specialized skills when they heard about the trapped miners. Local officials, international diving experts, and rescue volunteers worked around the clock pumping water and planning the safest extraction routes.

The villagers who fossick for gold in these tunnels often prepare for several days underground because of the difficulty getting in and out. That preparation likely helped them survive until rescuers could reach them.

The rescued men are now surrounded by family, medical care, and a community that never stopped hoping.