The multinational rescue mission in Laos' Xaysomboun province, which successfully extracted five men from a flooded mining tunnel last month and was continuing to look for two other Laotians, whom their families believe remain trapped inside, was suspended indefinitely yesterday.
Rescuers said the decision was made due to increasingly hazardous conditions caused by heavy rain, flooding and the risk of further landslides.
They vowed, however, to return to the site in Long Cheng village once conditions improve and it is safe to resume the search.
Thai rescue leader Jakkrit Taengtang, founder of the Sai Than Saphan Boon charitable organisation, wrote in a Facebook post that the Thai team began the mission on May 23rd and had continued for 14 days and 13 nights.
“We have handed over our plans and all information to the Lao team to continue the operation. Yes, there have been tears. We are saddened that the mission did not achieve its goal, for reasons that, frankly, are very frustrating. I hope the two missing people will be found,” Jakkrit wrote.
During the operation, rescuers faced repeated setbacks caused by natural conditions, including flooding and geological instability. Jakkrit said rescue equipment worth millions of baht had been left inside the cave because it cannot safely be retrieved yet.
He said the main reason for suspending the operation was the collapse of part of the cave entrance, which had significantly increased the danger for rescue personnel.
In addition, many members of the Thai rescue teams had been working continuously for an extended period and are exhausted, while several had fallen ill due to the physically demanding conditions.
Lao authorities are expected to formally announce the next steps following a joint assessment meeting with all relevant agencies later today.
“The team members will return if weather conditions improve, floodwaters recede and the cave entrance remains stable,” Jakkrit wrote.
He added that he had personally donated 30 million kip to each of the two affected families, a total of 60 million kip, or about 90,000 baht.
“We did everything we could. It's not that we didn't fight — we did, but we cannot overcome nature. We will come back,” he said.
The search operation involved rescuers from Laos and Thailand, along with international cave-diving experts.
Among the foreign experts who joined the operation was Finnish cave diver Mikko Paasi, a veteran of the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue mission in Chiang Rai.
The incident began when a gold-mining tunnel collapsed in Long Cheng district, trapping seven Lao workers underground on May 19.
At the request of Lao authorities, Thai rescue teams crossed the border with the necessary equipment and supplies to assist in the emergency response. They faced challenging conditions caused by narrow passages and rising floodwaters.
Although five miners were eventually brought out safely, the mission continued in an effort to locate two other Laotians whose families said had entered the cave before the five survivors.
The search effort suffered another setback on June 3rd when a magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck Laos at a depth of 10 kilometres, further complicating conditions inside the cave and increasing concerns about instability.
Hope was raised last week after a rope team surveying the mountain reported hearing knocking sounds from within the mountain.
Despite the suspension of the operation, the family of one of the missing men continues to hold out hope that he is still alive.
A young Lao mother with an eight-month-old baby has reportedly continued to wait outside the cave entrance every day throughout the ordeal.
Social media posts drew an outpouring of support from Laotians, many of whom thanked the rescue teams for their efforts and sacrifice.
“On behalf of a Lao citizen, I sincerely thank every member of the Thai team. For 14 days and 13 nights, you gave everything for us. Even though the mission did not end as hoped, your dedication will always remain in our hearts,” one user wrote.
Thai rescuers have indicated that they are prepared to return should weather conditions improve, floodwaters recede and the cave entrance become stable enough for operations to resume.
Yesterday, a traditional Baci blessing ceremony and appreciation event for personnel involved in the mission was held in Ban Phanxay in Long Cheng district.
Lao authorities provided helicopters to transport rescuers from Xaysomboun province to the capital, Vientiane. The teams are expected to cross the border back into Thailand today.
