Heavy rains are threatening to delay the search for two people missing in a flooded cave in Laos, after five others were rescued following more than a week underground. The group had entered the cave in Xaisomboun province to search for valuable minerals when a flash flood trapped them inside. One person escaped and alerted authorities, prompting a multinational rescue effort involving teams from Laos, Thailand, Finland, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, France, and Australia. Some of the divers previously took part in the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue in Thailand.

The five rescued individuals—identified as Khamla, Mued, Ee, Ing, and Laen—were found in the fifth chamber of the cave system, more than 200 meters inside. According to Finnish diver Mikko Paasi, survivors reported a narrow crack in that chamber, possibly leading to a sixth chamber where the two missing Lao nationals could still be. Rescuers are now waiting for pumps to lower the water level before attempting to pass through the tight space.

The first rescued man was guided out Friday through a flooded passage, while the remaining four walked out Saturday as water receded. They are now recovering at a local hospital. The ongoing search remains highly dependent on weather conditions and the ability to navigate the cave’s complex, flooded interior.