Urgent Search for Victims Trapped in Xaysomboun Cave

Xaysomboun: The search for victims trapped inside a cave in Phanchai Village, Longcheng District, Xaysomboun Province, has reached its sixth day today (25 May 2026), following the initial incident on 20 May 2026. As of now, the victims have not yet been found. According to Lao News Agency, provincial and district authorities, along with various domestic and international rescue foundations-including the Association of Volunteers for Lao People, the Saijai Lao 1666 Foundation, the Saithan Association (Thailand), the Mettatham Association of Kalasin Province (Thailand), and the Jai Teung Jai Association of Vientiane Capital-have jointly coordinated plans and are continuously accelerating the search operations. Regarding today's rescue mission, the volunteer rescue teams have continued their strategic planning. Diving teams from neighbouring Thailand are diving into the suspected area where the victims might be trapped, which is an elevated ledge inside the cave that benefits from a continuous airflow. Simulta neously, a water-pumping team is working to drain as much water out of the cave as possible. Meanwhile, relevant sectors have prepared ambulances, emergency vehicles, medical equipment, and medical personnel to stand by at the site, ensuring immediate medical treatment can be provided as soon as the victims are located and brought out. Additionally, officials from the provincial, district, and village levels, alongside local police, military personnel, village youth groups, and local residents, have joined a collective effort to transport food and essential supplies to the rescue teams during the mission.