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

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Five villagers trapped in a flooded cave in central Laos for over a week have been found alive. Rescuers said Wednesday that two others are still missing.

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Five of the seven villagers trapped for a week in a flooded cave in Laos have been found alive, rescuers said on Wednesday.

Five of the seven villagers trapped for a week in a flooded cave in Laos have been found alive, rescuers said on Wednesday.

Five villagers trapped in a flooded cave in central Laos for over a week have been found alive

'We've found 5 people alive and all safe. There are still 2 people we are searching for,' Laotian rescue group Rescue Volunteer for People said in a social media post.

Rescue teams have found five villagers who were stuck in a cave in Xaisomboun province, central Laos, following flash flooding, but two more people are missing

Two of the seven people who became trapped in a flooded cave a week ago are still missing.

Even before the men went into the Laos cave to fossick for gold, the rain has started. Their families told this masthead that they had been warned not to go, “but they didn’t…

The search will continue, with two people still missing inside the cave.

Five villagers stuck in a flooded cave in central Laos for more than a week were found alive, rescuers said Wednesday, but two others are missing.

The cave is located in a rugged, remote area in Xaisomboun province’s Longcheng district, about 120 kilometres north of the capital, Vientiane.

Video appears to show divers discovering group sitting on a rock surrounded by flood water, as search efforts continue for the missing

Divers discovered the trapped villagers sitting on a rock surrounded by floodwater; rescuers inside and outside the cave seen cheering, jumping around and hugging each other in…

The search is continuing for two others still missing from the group that became trapped when heavy rain triggered flash flooding that blocked the exit.

Five of seven villagers trapped for a week in a flooded Laos cave are found alive as rescuers battle dangerous conditions to reach the remaining two.

For now they remain stuck in an underground cavern as rescuers continue to search for the two remaining people.

For now they remain stuck in an underground cavern as rescuers continue to search for the two remaining people.

Thai divers broke through to an area where they found five of the trapped villagers perched on a muddy ledge, but two others remain missing.