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Rescuers pull four people trapped in flooded cave in Laos, Thai rescuers say

Rescue divers share the equipment usage guidelines with people trapped inside a cave during their rescue mission in Xaisomboun Province, Laos, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video released on May 30, 2026. Norrased Palasing/via REUTERS
Rescue divers share the equipment usage guidelines with people trapped inside a cave during their rescue mission in Xaisomboun Province, Laos, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video released on May 30, 2026. Norrased Palasing/via REUTERS Reuters

BANGKOK - Rescuers pulled four people trapped in a flooded cave in Laos, Thai rescuers said on Saturday.

The operation comes hours after another man was rescued from the flooded cave on Friday night.

The five people rescued are among seven Lao nationals who had entered the cave in Xaisomboun province to prospect for gold, but their exit was blocked, leaving them trapped for more than a week.

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 1:42 AM.

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