Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleRescuers in Laos are “racing against time” to save seven villagers trapped in a flooded cave in Xaysomboun province for over a week. The group became stranded on 20 May after entering an abandoned gold mine, with heavy rain causing flash flooding that blocked their exit. An international search team, including Finnish specialist Mikko Paasi, who assisted in the 2018 Thai cave rescue, is leading the operation. According to Mr Paasi, the team is “racing against time” and was considering a final search dive into the cave’s last chamber if safety conditions allowed.Water has been pumped out of the cave by authorities and local residents, while on Tuesday, rescue crews broke through 15 metres of obstacles.In fullInternational rescue team in ‘race against time’ to reach seven trapped in flooded Laos caveThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in