Laos cave survivors ate wooden gold‑panning trays while trapped

Five Lao workers trapped in a collapsed gold‑mine tunnel in Xaysomboun province survived by chewing wooden trays used for gold panning, according to rescue teams [1]. The survivors were located after days of searching, with one rescued and four still awaiting safe extraction [2].

Key takeaways

• Survivors ate two wooden gold‑panning trays to stave off hunger [1]
• The tunnel collapse occurred on 20 May, trapping seven workers [1]
• Five workers have been found; one (23‑year‑old Thao Mued) has been rescued [2]
• Four rescued men remain inside the tunnel while rescue teams plan the next stage [2]
• Two workers are still missing and families are holding vigils [2]

Rescue operation and survivor accounts

Thai and Laotian teams have been working for several days to locate and extract the trapped miners. The first survivor, identified as 23‑year‑old Thao Mued, was brought out safely, providing relief to families and rescuers [2]. The other four rescued men are still inside the flooded tunnel, where rescuers must first assess safety conditions before attempting to move them [2]. Kengkard Bongkawong, head of the Metta Tham Kalasin rescue team, posted on Facebook that the workers survived by eating two wooden trays made from soft, light wood used for gold panning [1]. An online commenter explained that such wood, once soaked, becomes softer and retains moisture, which could provide minimal energy in an extreme emergency [1].

Ongoing search for the missing

Two workers remain unaccounted for. Their families have set up a vigil at the rescue base while divers continue to explore the cave system. Divers have identified a possible vertical shaft that could lead to a deeper chamber where the missing men might be located, offering a new route that could avoid the hazardous flooded passages [2]. Rescue teams are also working to manage water levels by draining floodwater and constructing retention ponds to protect the cave from further rain‑induced flooding [2].

Why it matters

The incident highlights the dangers faced by informal miners in remote Lao regions and the challenges of rescuing people from flooded underground tunnels. The survivors’ use of wooden gold‑panning trays underscores the extreme measures people may resort to when cut off from food and water. Rescue efforts continue to focus on safely extracting the remaining four trapped workers and locating the two missing men, with water management and alternative entry points being critical to the operation’s success.