<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rescuers are racing against time to reach seven people who have been trapped in a cave in central Laos since last week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A group of villagers in Xaisomboun province went into the cave to look for gold on May 19, but heavy rain triggered flash flooding that blocked the exit, according to Laos and Thai rescue teams involved in the operation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bounkham Luanglath, who leads the Laos' Rescue Volunteer for People, told The Associated Press that one of the people from the group escaped before the exit was blocked and alerted authorities.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-may-26-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/596b4138-b57a-4af3-9600-d54fd9beda8c" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Trump's demand stuns Arab leaders into silence</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The status of the seven people who are trapped remains unknown.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said the cave is a narrow chamber often visited by villagers searching for gold deposits.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said that authorities had repeatedly warned people against entering the cave out of safety concerns.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/laos-cave-rescue-race-to-save-seven-people-trapped/85c7ad34-ea4c-486c-92e8-d3a57cfdc1ef" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/two-arrested-over-ho-chi-minh-city-assassination-of-australian-gang-figure/007c84a6-663c-4513-bb87-86035e2a1d11" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Two arrested over Ho Chi Minh City assassination of Australian gang figure</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>State-run Lao National Radio reported that Thai rescuers arrived at the site on Sunday for assistance.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Divers have since begun navigating flooded sections of the cave toward the area where they believe the group may be trapped.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Laos' Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The south-east Asian nation is a one-party communist state with no organised opposition and the government often keeps a tight lid on information.</span></div></div>