Police in Phu Tho Province have rescued three men who became trapped inside a cave after heavy rain caused floodwaters to block the only exit.
Dung Tien Commune Police said on September 16 that the rescue operation was successfully carried out at Rut cave in the commune.
The entrance to Rut cave, where the victims were trapped for two days because of heavy rain (Photo: Dung Tien Commune Police).
According to authorities, Ha Cong Tu, born in 1986, Quach Cong Quyet and Nguyen Van Hung, born in 1982, entered the Dong Tien valley area in Dung Tien Commune on the morning of September 14 before continuing into Rut cave for a visit.
The cave is located in an area with complex terrain. Its entrance is narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time, while the interior opens into a larger chamber.
While the three men were inside the cave, prolonged heavy rainfall struck the area. Large volumes of runoff flowed towards the entrance, causing water levels to rise and submerge the exit.
Unable to leave the cave on their own, the men remained trapped inside.
At around 9 am on September 16, relatives realised the group had not returned and began searching for them before notifying local authorities. Upon receiving the report, the Dung Tien Commune People's Committee directed police officers to launch an emergency search and rescue operation.
Rescuers faced challenging conditions, including continuing rainfall, rising water levels inside the cave, a narrow entrance and hazardous terrain. The operation was conducted with caution while adapting to conditions at the scene.
Rescue forces enter the cave to bring the victims out (Photo: Dung Tien Commune Police).
At approximately 11 am on September 16, police successfully brought all three men out of the cave.
The victims were successfully rescued after two days without contact inside the deep cave (Photo: Dung Tien Commune Police).
Authorities said all three were in stable condition following the rescue.
