Rescue workers in northern Laos have pulled the first of five missing men alive from a flooded cave system, officials confirmed on Thursday. The man, whose identity has not been released, was extracted after a 12-hour operation involving specialised diving teams and cave rescue experts. He is reported to be in stable condition and has been airlifted to a hospital in Luang Prabang.
The remaining four men, believed to be local guides and tourists who entered the cave on Monday before sudden rainfall caused water levels to rise, remain trapped. Authorities described the rescue as a ‘race against time’ as monsoon conditions threaten further flooding. The operation is being led by Lao military personnel with assistance from international volunteers.
The cause of the group’s entrapment is under investigation.
