VIENTIANE: Rescuers searching for two miners missing in a flooded cave system in Laos said they had discovered a previously unknown entrance that could provide access to the area where the men are believed to be trapped.
Australian cave diver Josh Richards said that he, French cave expert Robin Cuesta and soldiers found the opening after trekking through dense forest in the mountainous Xaisomboun province.
The discovery has raised hopes of finding the two men, who have been missing for nearly two weeks after monsoon flooding inundated large sections of the cave system and trapped seven gold prospectors underground.
Five of the miners have already been rescued. One was brought out by specialists on Friday (May 29) evening, while four others emerged on their own a day later.
Richards said he had descended through the newly discovered entrance on Sunday and found another shaft that could lead around 100 metres deep into the vicinity of the chamber where the missing men are thought to be located.
It remains unclear whether the passages are connected.
During the exploration, Richards repeatedly struck the rock with a hammer and heard sounds coming from below.
"It is not clear what those sounds were, it wasn't clear if it was an animal or something else. But there are definitely some unusual sounds coming from the bottom of this hole," he said.
The search is being complicated by fresh monsoon rains, which have intensified in recent days.
"The current entrance is terrifying and is scaring quite a few of us at the moment," Richards said.
Rescuers had previously considered diving through flooded and extremely narrow tunnels beyond the chamber where the five survivors were found.
Richards said the newly discovered access route could provide a safer alternative. - dpa
