• Five of seven trapped villagers found alive after a week in a flooded cave in Laos.
• The group had entered the cave on May 20 searching for gold.
• Heavy rains and a landslide cut off their exit, prompting rescue operations.
• Rescue teams include Thai divers who previously saved a youth football team in 2018.
• Oxygen supply has become a concern as rescue efforts evolve.

On Wednesday, May 27, rescue teams confirmed that they had located five of the seven villagers who had been trapped in a flooded cave in Laos for over a week. The group had entered the cave in Xaysomboun province on May 20 to look for gold when heavy rains and a landslide blocked their exit. Laotian and Thai rescuers announced their successful discovery, stating, “We’ve found 5 people alive and all safe,” while continuing the search for the remaining two individuals, who are still unaccounted for, according to Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.

Diving rescues took place amidst treacherous conditions in the cave, which required navigating flooded and narrow passages. Specialist rescuer Mikko Paasi, who had previously participated in the well-known 2018 rescue of a football team in Thailand, is among those involved in the recent operations. Videos shared by the rescue teams displayed the villagers in good spirits, smiling and expressing gratitude upon being found, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.

However, as the rescue operation progresses, concerns over oxygen supply have emerged. Kengkard Bongkawong, the leader of the Thai rescue team, described the need for more oxygen tanks and suggested establishing a refilling station to ensure that the operation could be completed successfully. Confusion has arisen regarding the status of the two missing villagers, with some groups claiming that all seven may have been found, but these reports remain unverified, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.