Cave Drama in Laos: Remaining Gold Prospectors Freed After Ten-Day Ordeal

A video obtained by dpa showed the men emerging from the mountain one after another amid cheers from rescue workers. The rescued men are now being examined by doctors, according to Richards.

No Diving Experience, a Flooded Passage

Together with a man already rescued on Friday evening, the four had been trapped for about ten days in a chamber hundreds of meters from the cave entrance. The cave was suddenly flooded after heavy rain, and a landslide also occurred.

The men had no experience with diving equipment, which rescuers had identified as one of the biggest challenges of the operation. The largest obstacle was a 20-meter-long flooded passage connecting the final chamber – where the gold prospectors were located – to the rest of the cave system.

Mikko Paasi, who coordinated the rescue effort and led the operation on Friday that brought the first man to safety, wrote on social media: "Today was a good day. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard for our common goal."

International Specialists and a "Real Miracle"

Paasi also posted a video showing the rescued gold prospector named Mued being guided through a narrow passage flooded with brown water. Richards told dpa that Paasi was "completely exhausted" after leading the extraction.

"What happened yesterday was a real miracle," Richards said of the first rescue. The Thai rescue unit MTK reiterated on social networks: "We will not leave anyone behind."

Water was pumped out of the cave again during the night, according to the Lao rescue organization Rescue Volunteer for People. International specialists from several countries are supporting the local emergency services.

Echoes of the Tham Luang Rescue

The international team includes several individuals who participated in the 2018 rescue operation in the flooded Tham Luang mountain cave in northern Thailand. In that incident, a Thai youth football team was trapped in a cavity for 18 days.

Despite the successful rescue of the five men, two gold prospectors remain missing in the cave. Rescuers have searched most of the cave system but have found no trace of the two missing men so far.

Two Men Still Missing

The man rescued on Friday had reported that the two missing men had advanced about 500 meters deeper into the cave than he had. When asked whether he believed they were still alive, he answered: "I'm afraid it's too cold in there."

Richards had cautioned earlier that the situation remained unpredictable. "Unfortunately, I can't estimate either a timeframe or the risks – we're taking it day by day, and the situation is constantly changing," he told dpa.

The Search Continues

The search for the two missing men continues, with rescue teams maintaining their commitment to the operation. The Lao rescue organization confirmed that water pumping efforts are ongoing to improve access to deeper sections of the cave.