Laos cave rescue shifts to vertical tunnels for two missing men

Rescue teams in Laos are now investigating deep vertical tunnels in the jungle as they search for two men believed to be trapped in a cave. Seven villagers were initially trapped on May 19 after heavy rains caused flash floods and landslides, blocking their exit.

Searchers successfully freed five villagers late last week. They were found in a cavern, and rescue teams pumped water from flooded sections of the cave to allow them to escape. The first man was fitted with diving equipment to navigate a flooded tunnel, and the other four followed soon after.

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We still believe we can find those guys alive.

Efforts have now focused on locating the two remaining men, who are thought to be in a different part of the cave system. Mikko Paasi, a Finnish cave diver involved in the rescue, expressed optimism, stating, "We still believe we can find those guys alive." A hydrological team from Thailand, which assisted in the 2018 Thai cave rescue, is en route to aid the operation.

The five rescued men drew a map pointing to a large air chamber beyond where they were found, which is believed to be where the two missing men might be. However, recent heavy monsoonal rains have flooded the narrow tunnel used to free the first group. Divers have also explored a potential vertical shaft entry point further up the hill, but found the shafts blocked by rockfall and landslides, preventing descent. "They couldn't identify any way they could potentially work to clear it," reported South Australian diver Josh Richards. Rescuers have not yet found any signs of life for the two missing men, raising grave fears for their survival.

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They couldn't identify any way they could potentially work to clear it.