Search efforts continued today for two Laotian nationals who remain missing in a flooded cave in Laos’ Xaysomboun province, after five others were found alive following days trapped inside since May 19.
Norrased Palasing, a Thai diving instructor, said the two missing men entered the cave separately from the group of five and their whereabouts remain unknown.
Norrased was among the divers involved in rescuing 12 Thai footballers and their coach from the Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province eight years ago.
He and another Tham Luang rescue veteran, Finnish diver Mikko Paasi, are among the multinational rescue team members who travelled to Laos to assist in the current operation.
Norrased Palasing and Mikko Paasi in Lao cave
Yesterday, five of the seven trapped Laotians were found alive in a flooded chamber inside the cave, and preparations are under way to bring them out safely.
Norrased told Matichon Online that reaching the trapped men requires rescuers to navigate through several hundred metres of extremely narrow passages before arriving at the dive point.
Norrased and Paasi are currently the only two certified cave divers involved in the rescue mission.
He said they are preparing additional rescue equipment and oxygen tanks while coordinating with diving networks to seek more volunteers to assist in rescuing the remaining trapped people.
He added that the two missing men were in a different group from the five survivors already found, and rescuers still do not know their location or condition.
Asked whether the five survivors had provided any information about the two still missing, Norrased said they did not even know the other two had entered the cave.
As a result, rescuers still have no clue as to where they may be.
When asked how difficult the mission is compared to the Tham Luang cave rescue, Norrased said it is “far more difficult” because the terrain is completely different.
“The Laos cave rescue is tougher than Tham Luang, and heavy rain may hamper efforts to save the remaining two trapped victims,” he said.
He explained that the entrance to the Laos cave is extremely narrow and located about 300 metres from the cave mouth.
The floodwater is very muddy, with zero visibility, while the water remains very cold despite the intense heat outside.
He added that rain is forecast today, which could further raise water levels inside the cave and make the operation even more difficult.
“Right now, I’m notifying diving networks and gathering necessary equipment, such as oxygen tanks.
At the moment, there are only two divers involved — myself and another foreign diver,” Kru Benz said.
“I would like to thank everyone for all the encouragement. We will do everything we can, no matter how difficult and risky this mission is,” he said.
