Four more men rescued from flooded cave after becoming trapped while searching for gold

Seven people are thought to have entered the mazelike cave network in Laos’ Xaisomboun Province on May 19 to look for gold, becoming trapped when heavy rain and flash flooding blocked the entrance to the cave.

Specialist divers located five of the men huddled together on a rock on Wednesday, capturing the moment of their discovery on video after navigating through the claustrophobic, muddy water-filled cave.

It is unclear where the two remaining men are, with search efforts set to continue Saturday, 11 days on from their disappearance.

The flooding has complicated the rescue efforts, with visibility inside the cave limited by the murky water.

Specialists have been working to pump water out of the cave ahead of the rescue mission. Video from Friday showed rescuers squeeze through small, claustrophobic tunnels.

When they were discovered on Wednesday, the men on the rock had ripped clothes and dirty faces, seemingly stunned that they had been found alive. One told the camera: “Don’t worry about me, ⁠mum. The rescuers are here. I’m safe now.”

Bongkawong said Friday evening that the search for the remaining two missing individuals would continue Saturday.

The specialist Thai volunteers leading the search effort include a ‌diver who took part ⁠in the famous 2018 rescue of 12 boys and ⁠their soccer coach from a flooded cave in northern Thailand.