Australian diver joins 'scary as hell' mission to rescue trapped Laos villagers
An Australian cave diver said he was joining a rescue mission to bring out villagers trapped in a flooded cave in Laos, ABC News reported. Rescue teams have already reached five of seven people. The conditions remain dangerous and the operation is being carried out cautiously.
An experienced Australian cave diver has told ABC News he is joining the international operation to evacuate villagers trapped in a cave in northern Laos following heavy rainfall. Some of the teams that took part in the 2018 Tham Luang rescue in Thailand are also taking part in this mission. Officials said that the water level inside parts of the cave remains high.
According to information relayed by ABC News, rescue teams have been able to reach five of the seven people; the status of the other two remained unclear at the time of reporting. The coordination process between the Laotian government and international teams is being conducted under the supervision of local authorities. The Australian diver said the conditions were 'extremely difficult' and the mission could be 'scary as hell'.
The operation has attracted significant international attention during the past week. Officials said the rescue process could speed up if rainfall eases. The statements in this article rely on the source's reporting and cover conditions that cannot be personally verified; the operation's situation may change hour by hour.
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