Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleFive people have been found alive in a flooded gold mine in Laos, over a week after they became trapped by torrential rains. Seven people initially entered the remote mine in Xaysomboun province, with two still missing following the discovery of the five survivors. Rescuers, including Finnish cave diver Mikko Paasi, described the moment of finding the villagers over 300 metres inside the cave as "emotional" and "overwhelming", adding: “They were very happy, there were tears, big smiles from both sides”.The ongoing rescue operation faces significant challenges, including extremely narrow, muddy, and partially flooded passages, a 27-metre submerged section, and toxic hydrogen sulfide gas. Specialist cave divers from multiple countries are involved, with the team needing oxygen tanks and potentially modified stretchers to extract the villagers from the dangerous conditions. In fullFinnish cave diver recalls ‘emotional’ moment Laos villagers were found alive: ‘What are the chances?’Thank 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
‘Overwhelming’ moment five people were found alive inside flooded Laos cave
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleFive people have been found alive in a flooded gold mine in Laos, over a week after they became trapped by torrential rains. Seven people initially entered the remote mine in Xaysomboun province, with two still missing following the discovery of the five survivors. Rescuers, including Finnish cave diver Mikko Paasi, described the moment of finding the villagers over 300 metres inside the cave as "emotional" and "overwhelming", adding: “They were very happy, there were tears, big smiles from both sides”.The ongoing rescue operation faces significant challenges, including extremely narrow, muddy, and partially flooded passages, a 27-metre submerged section, and toxic hydrogen sulfide gas. Specialist cave divers from multiple countries are involved, with the team needing oxygen tanks and potentially modified stretchers to extract the villagers from the dangerous conditions. In fullFinnish cave diver recalls ‘emotional’ moment Laos villagers were found alive: ‘What are the chances?’Thank 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
