Rescue teams in northern Laos are engaged in a desperate operation to extract seven individuals trapped in a flooded cave system. The group, believed to be local residents, became stranded after sudden heavy rainfall caused water levels to rise rapidly inside the Tham Nam cave in Luang Prabang province, approximately 200 kilometres north of the capital, Vientiane. Provincial authorities confirmed that efforts began on Tuesday evening after the group failed to return from the cave, a popular site for tourism and pilgrimage.
Divers and engineers have been deployed to assess the conditions, but rising water and strong currents have complicated access. A provincial spokesperson stated that communication with the trapped individuals remains limited, though loudspeakers have been used to establish contact. The operation involves a trained dive team from the Lao army, supported by volunteers with knowledge of the cave network.
Officials have described the situation as precarious, with the floodwaters showing no sign of receding. The cave, known for its Buddhist shrines, has experienced flash flooding in the past, but this is the most serious incident in recent memory. The trapped include two children aged 10 and 12, according to a family member at the scene.
Medical teams are on standby, and the Thai government has offered assistance, which Lao authorities have noted but have not yet formally requested. Rescue experts from international organisations operating in the region have warned that time is critical, as oxygen levels and body temperature may decline. The operation is being led by the Luang Prabang Provincial Disaster Management Committee, which has set up a command centre at the cave entrance.
Aerial drones with thermal imaging have been deployed to map the cave system, but the erratic weather, including further rain forecasted for the coming days, threatens to delay the rescue. The prime minister's office has been briefed, and the national broadcaster is providing live updates. This event draws immediate comparisons to past cave rescues in the region, notably the 2018 Tham Luang operation in Thailand, though officials caution that the topography here is less known and the logistical challenges are distinct.
