Villagers had entered the cave last week to look for valuable minerals before becoming trapped by flash flooding.

Five villagers trapped inside a flooded cave in Laos for more than a week have been found alive, while two are still missing.

Rescuers rejoiced as they found five of the seven men trapped in a Laos cave. But they caution a high-stakes extraction lies ahead, "and it ain't going to be easy".

Rescuers in Laos are working to extricate five villagers trapped in a flooded cave for over a week. Two more villagers are still missing.

Rescuers in Laos are trying to drain water from a flooded cave to free five villagers trapped for more than a week

Rescuers in Laos are trying to drain water from a flooded cave to free five villagers trapped for more than a week

As divers continue their search for the people trapped inside a Laos cave for 10 days, rescue crews began their operation Friday to get the five other trapped victims.

Lao and Thai rescue workers posted the news on social media, along with a video showing the first rescued villager with a lamp strapped to his forehead.

Rescuers confirmed that four men remained trapped inside the cave and were “awaiting further assessment.”

Evacuations for the other four villages have been paused

Seven people who entered the cave last week were trapped inside by flash flooding that blocked their way. Five of them found some days ago have reached the service after rescuers…

Rescue divers in Laos have safely evacuated the first of five local villagers who had been trapped in a cave for more than a week by floodwaters.

Rescue workers in Laos have worked to safely free villagers trapped in a flooded cave for 10 days. On Friday, the first of five detected survivors was evacuated.

Ongoing work follows successful evacuation of first survivor on Friday

Laos officials believe two other men may still be missing in the cave, although rescue crews say they have explored most of the tunnels and have not found any survivors or bodies.

Search efforts to find two missing men were expected to continue on Saturday after rescuers freed the last of the five men found alive on a rock.

The five are among seven Lao nationals who had entered the cave to prospect for gold, but were trapped for more than a week when rising water blocked their exit.

Rescue teams in Laos successfully evacuated four villagers from a flooded cave, while searching for two others still missing.

Two others remain missing after group became trapped by rising water last week

Rescuers in Laos said Saturday they have safely evacuated four villagers trapped in a flooded cave for 10 days. One person was safely released a day earlier.

Laos and Thai rescue groups posted about the successful operation on social media, along with photos of the men lying on stretchers, wearing oxygen masks and being wrapped in foil…