Rescuers race to save last two men trapped in Laos cave

With their elbows and knees scraping the walls as they wriggle through claustrophobic tunnels, rescuers are in a race against time to save two men still stuck in a cave in central Laos.

BANGKOK — With their elbows and knees scraping the walls as they wriggle through claustrophobic tunnels, rescuers are in a race against time to save two men still stuck in a cave in central Laos.

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Seven men in search of gold were trapped in the mazelike cave network in Xaisomboun province more than a week ago when heavy rain and flash flooding blocked the only entrance. Five of them have since been freed as water levels dropped, including four who walked out on their own Saturday just as divers were getting ready to go in and get them.

On Monday, the focus narrowed on the remaining two men, as divers used ropes to rappel down into deep shafts, straining to hear clues for where they might be.