Laos cave survivors help with plan to find last two missing men

Some of those freed from a flooded cave in Laos are helping in efforts to find the last two missing men trapped inside, rescuers have said.

So far, five of the seven initially missing have been rescued but it is believed the remaining two men are trapped deeper inside the cave in the mountain area of central Xaysomboun province.

The men, all local villagers, entered the narrow tunnels on 20 May in search of gold but flash floods stopped them from leaving.

On Sunday, a rescuer told AFP that several survivors were giving advice from their hospital room on how to find the remaining men, including descriptions of the deeper part of the cave.

A Laotian rescue group said the men's information on the cave system - which extends deep underground and in some places measures around 50cm (20in) wide - was "considered substantial" and used in preparing a new search plan.

A fresh effort to find the remaining two men was expected on Sunday.

It comes as reports said the four men who left the cave on Saturday managed to free themselves without the help of rescuers after the water level lowered.

One unverified video posted to social media showed cheers from both rescuers and onlookers as the men emerged from the cave.