Locals pray for a safe rescue at the cave entrance, alongside ventilation and water-pumping equipment. --Photo The Volunteer Rescue for the People

Rescue teams pump water from cave, hoping to reach last trapped men

Rescue teams are racing to clear floodwater from a cave in Xaysomboun province as they push to reach two men still trapped underground after more than 10 days.
Lao and international rescue teams have been working around the clock since seven men became trapped in an uncharted cave in Longchaeng district on May 20, when heavy rain triggered a flash flood and blocked the way out.
Five of the men have been rescued, but efforts to reach the remaining two have been slowed by water that continues to block passage through the cave.
Chairman of the Longchaeng District Administration Committee, Mr Bounphong Khamanyvong, told the Vientiane Times that rescuers are urgently procuring additional equipment and installing more pumps at several locations to speed up water drainage.
The biggest obstacle remains the cave entrance, where floodwater has reached a depth of about 20 metres, making the area inaccessible without diving equipment.
Rescuers have encountered another frustrating challenge. Water pumped from the cave appears to flow back into underground holes, preventing the water level from dropping.
“When we pump the water, does it simply drain back into a cave hole, or where exactly does it go? We need to understand the water mass—whether the water we remove is flowing back to the same place, or where the current water is actually originating from. This will tell us where we need to block the flow and where to pump for our efforts to be effective,” Mr Bounphong said.
Lao authorities are now seeking additional assistance from a specialist team from Thailand who took part in the rescue of the 13 Moo Pa (Wild Boars) football team from Tham Luang cave in 2018.
The Thai team, which is expected to arrive in Laos on Tuesday night, is bringing advanced water-scanning technology to help identify the source and movement of water inside the cave system.
Mr Bounphong said Longchaeng district authorities are providing full logistical support to ensure the Thai team and their equipment reach the cave as quickly as possible.
At the same time, rescue teams are searching for alternative routes into the cave.
Using Global Positioning System coordinates and rope-access equipment, teams are descending vertical shafts along the cliff face to determine whether any connect to the chamber where the two men may be trapped.
If rescuers discover a shaft large enough for a person to pass through, they may adjust their plans and use ropes to lift the men to safety. Such an approach could reduce the risks associated with a diving rescue through flooded passages stretching between 100 and 200 metres.
Asked whether he believed the two men were still alive, President of the Volunteer Rescue for the People and Head of the Field Operations Team, Mr Bounkham Luanglath, said he remained hopeful.
“I believe they are alive because of human survival instinct, coupled with the fact that people trapped for even longer periods have managed to survive,” he said.
His words have given fresh encouragement to anxious families waiting outside the cave and to people across Laos who are following the operation closely.
Five of the seven men trapped by flash floods after entering the cave on May 20 have already been rescued.
More than 10 days after they became trapped, rescue crews continue to work day and night, determined to overcome the obstacles and eventually bring the last two missing men to safety.
As the operation enters another critical phase, hope remains that they are still waiting for help somewhere in the depths of the cave.

By Phonepaseuth Volakhoun
 (Latest Update June 3, 2026)