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First of five men found alive in flooded Laos cave rescued
bbc.
Rescuers pulled one man out of a flooded cave in Laos. He was trapped with four others for seven days. The group entered the cave to look for gold. Heavy rains caused flash floods on May 20. These floods blocked their exit from the cave.
The rescue team found the five men alive. Divers located them deep inside the dark cavern. They were huddled together in a small space. Sadly, two other men from their group are missing. Experts fear they drowned in the rising water.
A Thai rescuer posted a photo online. The image showed the survivor being helped out. The team said the first victim was safe. This news gave hope to worried families. It proved that saving lives was possible.
The area is very remote and mountainous. Weather threats made the mission harder. Forecasters predicted rain for Friday evening. More rain could raise water levels again. This would endanger the remaining survivors inside.
Video footage showed the men in bad shape. They were covered in mud and looked tired. They reported chest pains and hunger. Surviving in the wet, dark space was hard.
Rescuers first tried to pump out the water. This plan failed because of too much water. They then considered scuba diving lessons. The men would swim through underwater tunnels. This plan was very dangerous. It required high skill and calm nerves.
Experts arrived from many countries to help. They brought special diving skills to the team. One expert said the environment is hostile. Every move must be perfect to succeed.
The team did not share exact details. They want to keep the survivors private. Now, workers must check the health of the four men inside. They will also search for the missing men. The rescue team will not give up.