Heavy rains threaten to delay search for 2 people missing in Laos cave

Heavy rains threatened to delay the search for two people missing in a flooded cave in Laos on Sunday, after the rescue of five other people.

BANGKOK — Heavy rains threatened to delay the search for two people missing in a flooded cave in Laos on Sunday, after the rescue of five other people who were trapped underground for over a week.

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Finnish diver Mikko Paasi, one of the first international rescuers to arrive at the site, told The Associated Press that rains had filled the cave up to the second chamber, preventing divers from entering the cave until pumps can lower the water level.

The seven people reportedly entered the cave last week to look for valuable minerals before being trapped by a flash flood that blocked their way out. One other person escaped and alerted the authorities.