Rescue teams in Laos have successfully evacuated four men who were trapped in a flooded cave for 10 days, authorities confirmed on Sunday. The operation followed the successful extraction of the first survivor the previous day, marking a critical breakthrough in the ongoing rescue effort.

The men, all villagers, were found alive but stranded deep inside the cave system that had been inundated by rising floodwaters. Lao and Thai rescue personnel collaborated closely, sharing updates and images of the operation on social media. Photographs showed the rescued individuals lying on stretchers, wearing oxygen masks, and covered with foil blankets to prevent hypothermia.

Teams worked under challenging conditions, racing against time to bring the remaining men to safety while simultaneously searching for two others who have yet to be located. The complex cave system, combined with the persistent floodwaters, posed significant obstacles, requiring expert coordination and the deployment of specialized diving teams from both countries.

The rescue operation drew on extensive international experience in cave diving and technical rescue, highlighting the risks faced by local villagers who had ventured into the cave when the flooding occurred. Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the individuals rescued, nor provided details on the missing persons.

Officials emphasized that the search and rescue efforts remain ongoing, with hopes still alive of recovering the two remaining men. The incident has underscored the challenges of cave rescue missions in Southeast Asia's often unpredictable monsoon season, where sudden floods can trap those inside remote underground passages for extended periods.