The seven men had been trapped in the cavern in a remote mountainous area of central Xaysomboun province since May 20, when flash floods stranded them.

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…

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.