A dangerous operation to rescue seven villagers trapped in a flooded cave for a week continues to unfold in a mountainous region of Laos, where experts are trying to beat bad weather and deteriorating conditions that are putting multiple lives at risk.

Five people ‌who had been trapped inside a cave in ‌Laos for about a week were found alive on Wednesday, as ​dozens of Lao and Thai rescuers continued to search for two others, Thai volunteers said.

Waterproof helmets, breathing masks and gas monitors have been deployed with rescue crews to monitor the level of oxygen and toxic gases in the narrow cave system, they added.