Capital of Laos on the Mekong
Five of seven villagers have been rescued from a flooded cave in Xaisomboun province. Rescue teams from Laos and Thailand are pumping water and exploring air shafts to reach the remaining trapped individuals as heavy rains continue to complicate operations.
An overnight rainstorm has complicated rescue efforts for five villagers who were trapped inside a cave after entering to search for minerals. Rescue teams from Laos and Thailand have located and are expediting the five men to safety, while one other person escaped and two remain missing.
Laotian and international rescuers have called off an inside-cave search for two men who went missing after flash floods trapped seven people in a Xaisomboun cave on May 20. Five have been rescued; teams are continuing external pumping and digging to lower water levels and are leaving food at likely exit points. Heavy rain is worsening conditions.
Laos authorities have announced charges related to the 2024 methanol-poisoning deaths at a Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng. Autopsies were not conducted, but forensic tests detected excessive methanol in vodka linked to the Tiger distillery. Australia and Denmark are pressing for tougher charges and justice for the victims.