Laos cave survivors help with plan to find last two missing men

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Laos cave survivors help with plan to find last two missing men8 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleAlex Boyd More people rescued from flooded Laos cave on Saturday after more than a weekSome of those freed from a flooded cave in Laos are helping in efforts to find the last two missing men trapped inside, rescuers have said. So far, five of the seven initially missing have been rescued but it is believed the remaining two men are trapped deeper inside the cave in the mountain area of central Xaysomboun province. The men, all local villagers, entered the narrow tunnels on 20 May in search of gold but flash floods stopped them from leaving.

On Sunday, a rescuer told that several survivors were giving advice from their hospital room on how to find the remaining men, including descriptions of the deeper part of the cave. A Laotian rescue group said the men's information on the cave system - which extends deep underground and in some places measures around 50cm (20in) wide - was "considered substantial" and used in preparing a new search plan. A fresh effort to find the remaining two men was expected on Sunday.

The Details

It comes as reports said the four men who left the cave on Saturday managed to free themselves without the help of rescuers after the water level lowered. One unverified video posted to social media showed cheers from both rescuers and onlookers as the men emerged from the cave. It was not clear what caused the water to lower, but a Japanese rescue diver told AP on Sunday that flood water was being drained from the cave.

Yoshitaka Isaji said the passage used in rescue efforts on Saturday was currently impassable because a drainage pump had broken, but repair efforts were ongoing. Earlier in the week, a plan to pump out flood water from the tunnels also failed. Specialist divers from other countries including Thailand, Indonesia, France and Australia are also helping the searches.

The first man was freed by rescuers on Friday.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.