A Lao worker trapped inside a gold mine cave in Laos has been rescued after a major international operation involving Thai and Finnish cave diving experts. Rescue teams successfully brought one of five survivors out of the flooded tunnel at 20.40 on 29 May 2026, according to the Thailand Rescue Diver Facebook page.

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The worker was among seven Lao labourers trapped inside a gold mine cave in Long Chaeng, Xaysomboun province, Laos, since 19 May. Heavy rain and flash flooding had swept through the mine, cutting off access and leaving the workers stranded underground.

Thai and Finnish cave diving and rescue specialists travelled to the area on 20 May to assist with the operation. On 27 May 2026, rescuers finally reached the trapped workers, who were reported to be suffering from exhaustion after spending days inside the cave system.

Following contact with the survivors, rescue teams began planning a complex extraction from the flooded mine tunnels. The latest operation successfully removed the first survivor from the cave, while four others remain underground awaiting further assessment before evacuation attempts continue.

Picture courtesy of Komchadluek

“Kaengkaj Bongkaowong”, head of the Metta Tham rescue team from Thailand, confirmed the rescued worker was brought out safely. He added that teams would continue assessing conditions before attempting to evacuate the remaining four survivors.

Rescuers are also continuing efforts to locate two additional workers still missing inside the cave complex. Search operations for the missing pair are expected to resume on 30 May.

The rescue operation has drawn attention due to the difficult conditions inside the flooded mine and the involvement of experienced international cave rescue specialists. The operation follows days of challenging underwater access and hazardous conditions caused by persistent flooding.

Komchadluek reported officials have not yet released further details on the rescued worker’s medical condition. Authorities are expected to provide additional updates as rescue teams continue evacuation and search efforts in the coming days.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Komchadluek 30 May 2026

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UPDATE

Rescuers Recover  Five Miners From Laos Tunnel

Pictures courtesy of Amarin

Five Lao workers trapped inside a collapsed gold mining tunnel in Longchaeng, Xaysomboun Province, Laos, have been rescued safely after a major joint operation involving Lao authorities and rescue teams from Thailand, supported by a Finnish diver. The successful extraction of all five survivors marks a significant breakthrough in the ongoing mission, although two workers remain unaccounted for.

The collapse occurred at a gold mining tunnel in Longchaeng, leaving seven Lao workers trapped underground. Thai rescue personnel crossed into Laos to assist local authorities in the emergency operation, which was complicated by confined spaces and extensive flooding within the tunnel system.

On 27 May 2026 at 4.50pm, Facebook page “Jakkrit Tangtang”, operated by rescue volunteer and influencer Pond Jakkrit Tangtang, reported that rescuers had located five of the seven trapped workers. The discovery came on the fourth day of the search effort.

Later on 29 May 2026, rescuers successfully brought out the first survivor, Mr Mued, aged 23. The remaining four survivors were not immediately evacuated as officials needed additional time to develop a safe extraction plan.

Rescuers believed the two missing workers may have been beyond the location where the five survivors were found. Reaching the suspected area was expected to require divers to travel a further 25 metres through sections containing large volumes of water. Officials noted that the water was extremely cold because the search area lay deeper beneath the mountain.

According to Kengkaj Bongkaowong, also known as Ajarn Tinglee, head of Metta Dham Kalasin Rescue Foundation, all five rescued workers have now been brought safely out of the tunnel. In a Facebook post, he stated: “The remaining four have now exited the cave. In total, all five people who were located have been brought out safely.”

Kengkaj later confirmed that the search operation for the remaining two missing workers is continuing. He wrote: “The mission to search for the other two people is still under way.”

He also highlighted the continuing hopes of the families awaiting news of their loved ones, stating: “Other families are celebrating, but the children of the other two families are still waiting for their fathers with hope. We continue the mission.” Amarin reported that authorities and rescue teams remain focused on locating the remaining two workers as the operation enters its next phase.

Adapted by ASEAN Now Amarin 30 May 2026

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