health
Experts from Thai rescue join efforts to save 7 gold prospectors trapped in Laos cave
Cave rescue experts from Thailand who aided the dramatic 2018 retrieval of a youth football team joined efforts Monday to extract seven people trapped in a flooded cave in neighboring Laos, Laotian state media said.
TL;DR
- Thai cave rescue experts, who previously aided in the 2018 "Wild Boars" rescue, are now helping in Laos.
- Seven Laotian villagers have been trapped in a flooded cave in central Xaysomboun province since May 20.
- The villagers were searching for gold when flash flooding from heavy rain blocked their exit.
- Authorities and villagers are pumping water out, but rescue teams have not been able to reach the group.
- The condition of the trapped individuals is currently unknown.
- About 100 people from Laos and Thailand are involved in the rescue operations.
- Two Thai specialists and a Finnish expert from the 2018 rescue are on site.
- The Laotian rescue group appealed for specialist personnel and equipment from Thai charities.
- Rescuers face difficult conditions due to rain and the cave's deep, multi-level system.