Rescuers have located five people trapped in a cave system in northern Laos, prompting an offer of specialist assistance from the Royal Navy diving team. The group, believed to be local villagers, became stranded yesterday afternoon when flash floods caused by tropical rainfall blocked the cave entrance in Luang Prabang province. Provincial disaster response teams, supported by Thai and Vietnamese specialists, reached the group early this morning after an overnight operation that involved clearing debris and navigating narrow passages.
The Royal Navy’s mine clearance and diving unit, based in Portsmouth, has offered to deploy a team with expertise in confined space rescues and underground navigation. A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office confirmed that the offer was made through diplomatic channels and is being considered by Lao authorities. The trapped individuals are reported to be in stable condition with access to air pockets and limited drinking water.
Medical teams are standing by with stretchers and oxygen supplies at the cave mouth. The incident echoes the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue in Thailand but on a smaller scale. Officials have cautioned that monsoon conditions remain unpredictable, and the extraction may take several days.
The operation is being coordinated by the Lao National Disaster Management Committee, with logistical support from neighbouring countries. No British nationals are believed to be among those trapped.
