Rescuers in Laos halt the search for two men missing after being trapped in a semi-submerged cave for more than two weeks, several outlets report. Earlier, the rescue operation succeeded in freeing five men from the flooded, narrow cave, including four more men pulled out on Saturday. BBC and other reports say survivors and the men who were released provide information that helps rescuers plan how to search deeper passages where the remaining two are believed to be trapped.
However, as time passes, rescuers assess that the situation has become too risky. Channel NewsAsia and the Bangkok Post report that continued operations are limited by factors including unstable cave conditions, flooding, and poor air quality. They also describe that the chance of finding the two missing men is slim compared with the hazards of further attempts. The Kathmandu Post and other coverage likewise state that while five have been recovered, two people remain unaccounted for as of the search being called off. RTE reports that survivors advise rescuers from hospital after their release, but the overall operation ends due to safety concerns.
