International cave rescue experts in Laos were in a race against time and the weather as day 7 of an operation to rescue seven people trapped in a flooded cave in a mineral rich region of the country came to a close. Photo by Metta Tham Kalasin Rescue/EPA
May 26 (UPI) -- Authorities in Laos were in a race against time and the weather Tuesday as day 7 of an operation to rescue seven people trapped in a flooded cave in a mineral-rich region north of the capital, Vientiane, came to a close.
The group, all locals, became trapped by landslides triggered by heavy rains on Wednesday after entering the remote cave, which is accessible only on foot, in the central province of Xaysomboun on a hunting and gold prospecting mission.
The landslides blocked the cave entrance and caused it to flood with muddy water.
The group have not been heard from since, but one person who managed to reach safety reported at least one area of the cave was not underwater and specialist cave rescue divers from neighboring Thailand who had joined the operation said they had found pockets of air.
