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Rescuers are racing against time to free seven people who have been trapped for nearly a week in a flooded cave in Laos.

The seven were part of a group of villagers from the central province of Xaysomboun who had gone into the cave on Wednesday in search of gold and wildlife, but could not get out as rain and landslides blocked the cave’s entrance.

Footage shared by the rescue groups show the cave divers crawling into the cave through narrow, muddy passageways that are almost completely flooded.

Several experts involved in the dramatic rescue of a team of teenage footballers trapped deep inside a Thai cave back in 2018 are among those helping with the current rescue effort.

A survivor who had managed to escape alerted the authorities about those still trapped, according to reports.

The cave in question is frequented by villagers looking for gold deposits, Bounkham Luanglath, who leads the Laos’ Rescue Volunteer for People, told the Associated Press.

The cave system, which extends deep underground, is also extremely narrow, with some chambers measuring only about 50cm (20in) wide, rescuers say.

Rescuers are working to pump water out of the cave.

They managed to clear out some rocks at the front of the cave on Monday and were able to survey the deeper sections of it, but water levels have continued to rise, preventing them from going further, rescuers say.

They have not detected any signs of life so far, but Kengkard Bongkawong of the Thai rescue group Metta Tham Rescue believe they are reaching close to the point where they believe the people are trapped, saying he estimated they were ‘‘less than 20m (65ft) away’’.

‘‘All day, all night, water was still being pumped out,’’ Kengkard wrote on Facebook last night.

Kengkard was part of the team that helped bring 12 young Thai boys and their football coach to safety after they were trapped for two weeks inside a flooded cave underneath a mountain in Thailand’s Chiang Rai province in 2018.

The extraordinary rescue involved more than 10,000 experts from around the world and drew intense global attention.

Several films and documentaries have been made based on it, including the feature film Thirteen Lives and the documentary The Rescue.

Source: BBC 

A minor flood situation could develop in low-lying areas of the Kalu Ganga basin within the next 24 hours, according to the Department of Irrigation, following considerable rainfall recorded in the catchment areas.

The Department said current rainfall conditions and river water levels observed at hydrological stations along the Kalu Ganga indicate a risk of minor flooding in several vulnerable areas of the Kalu Ganga valley.

The Divisional Secretariat Divisions identified as potentially affected include Ingiriya, Horana, Dodangoda, Millaniya, Kalutara, Bulathsinhala, Madurawala, and Palindanuwara.

Residents living in low-lying areas, as well as motorists travelling through these locations, have been urged to remain alert and exercise caution as water levels continue to be monitored.

Meanwhile, disaster management authorities have been requested to take the necessary precautionary measures in response to the possible flood situation.

Vehicle prices in Sri Lanka could see a temporary increase as a result of higher surcharges on imports and fluctuations in exchange rates, according to indications from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), raising concerns among importers over the impact on both businesses and consumers.

Representatives of the Vehicle Importers’ Association of Sri Lanka have urged authorities to provide relief for vehicles that have already been imported or for shipments where Letters of Credit (LCs) had been opened before the latest policy changes took effect.

Vice President of the Association, Arosha Rodrigo, said the reduction in the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio would weaken consumers’ purchasing power and affordability, which could directly limit vehicle imports in the market. He noted that tighter financing conditions may make it more difficult for buyers to purchase vehicles, creating added pressure on the industry.

Meanwhile, Association President Prasad Manage criticized the sudden revision of leasing regulations, pointing out that leasing facilities previously available up to 50 percent had now been reduced to 40 percent. He said the change would make it harder for importers to sell vehicles that had already been brought into the country under earlier market expectations.

Manage further stressed that policy revisions of this nature should have included concessions for vehicles already imported or for transactions where import procedures had already begun, warning that abrupt regulatory shifts could place additional strain on the vehicle import sector.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has cancelled its pre-World Cup training camp in the capital, Kinshasa, because of an Ebola outbreak in the east of the country.

Preparations have been moved to Belgium amid the upsurge, which is thought to have killed 139 people out of 600 suspected cases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern”, but said it was not at pandemic level.

Jerry Kalemo, a spokesperson for the national football team, told international media that pre-tournament games in Europe would go ahead as planned, as the squad gears up for their first World Cup since 1974.

DR Congo are due to play friendly matches against Denmark, on 3 June in Liege, and Chile, on 9 June in Marbella, ahead of the World Cup finals.

Back at home, authorities will be occupied with attempts to contain the Ebola outbreak, which has been caused by a rare species known as Bundibugyo.

There is currently no vaccine for this species and the WHO has said it could take up to nine months for a jab to be ready.

Source: BBC

The Department of Meteorology has warned of increasing rainfall as the Southwest Monsoon gradually establishes across the island, with wet weather conditions expected to intensify over the southwestern parts of Sri Lanka.

Showers or thundershowers are forecast at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western provinces, as well as in the districts of Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya. Heavy rainfall of around 100 mm is likely at some locations in these areas, raising the possibility of water accumulation and localized disruptions.

The Met. Department also said a few showers or thundershowers may develop in parts of Uva Province and in the districts of Ampara and Batticaloa after 1.00 p.m.

In addition to rainfall, fairly strong winds of 30 to 40 kmph can be expected at times over the western slopes of the central hills, as well as in the Northern, North-Central, North-Western and Southern provinces, including the Trincomalee district.

With changing monsoon conditions bringing both rain and gusty winds, the public has been advised to take necessary precautions to minimize damage from temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa has called for an All-Party Conference to discuss the ongoing economic downturn, highlighting concerns over the rapid depreciation of the Sri Lankan Rupee.

Premadasa said the opposition has come together in unity at a time when the country is once again facing what he described as a “dangerous economic warning sign.”

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he stated that the rapid depreciation of the rupee, rising cost pressures, and growing economic uncertainty cannot be treated as a partisan issue.

He further noted that the opposition has decided to formally request President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to immediately convene an All-Party Conference to explore urgent national solutions before the situation worsens further.

Oil prices hit two-week lows on Monday on optimism that the U.S. and Iran were moving closer towards a peace deal even though they remained at odds over key issues, including blockades on the Strait of Hormuz that continued to restrict oil supply ⁠from the Middle East.

Brent crude futures fell $4.71, or 4.55%, to $98.83 a barrel by 2234 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate was at $92.03 a barrel, down $4.57, or 4.73%.

Both contracts touched their lowest since May 7 earlier in the session.

On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Washington and Iran had ‘‘largely negotiated’’ a memorandum of understanding on a peace deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which before the ⁠conflict carried one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

However, the two sides remain at odds on several difficult issues, with Trump saying on Sunday he had told his representatives not to rush into any deal ⁠with Iran.

MST Marquee analyst Saul Kavonic said: ‘‘Notwithstanding all the caveats and risks that remain to the peace deal and Strait of Hormuz, there is now ⁠some light at the end of the tunnel, which will bring some near-term oil price relief.’’

However, analysts expect that it will ⁠take months for oil flows through the strait to return to normal and for damaged oil and gas facilities to be repaired.

Source: Reuters

Mohamed Salah is set to captain Egypt at the World Cup this summer after being named in their preliminary 27-man squad.

The 33-year-old forward, who will leave Liverpool at the end of the season after nine years, has scored 67 goals in 115 appearances for Egypt.

He is joined by Manchester City winger Omar Marmoush and uncapped 18-year-old Hamza Abdelkarim, who plays for Barcelona Under-19s.

Nantes forward Mostafa Mohamed has been left out, and head coach Hossam Hassan will drop one player after a friendly against Russia in Cairo on 28 May to reduce the squad to the Fifa-mandated 26 players.

Egypt will play Brazil in a friendly in Cleveland six on 6 June.

Drawn in Group G at the World Cup, Egypt face Belgium on 15 June, New Zealand on 22 June and Iran on 27 June.

The expanded 48-team competition in the US, Canada and Mexico runs from 11 June to 19 July.

Egypt World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Al Ahly), Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly), El Mahdi Soliman (Zamalek), Mohamed Alaa (El Gouna).

Defenders: Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Tarek Alaa (Zed), Hamdy Fathy (Al Wakrah), Rami Rabia (Al Ain), Yasser Ibrahim (Al Ahly), Hossam Abdelmaguid (Zamalek), Mohamed Abdelmonemn (Nice), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Karim Hafez (Pyramids).

Midfielders: Marwan Ateya (Al Ahly), Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids), Nabil Emad (Al Najma), Mahmoud Saber (Zed), Ahmed Zizo (Al Ahly), Emam Ashour (Al Ahly), Mostafa Ziko (Pyramids), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Al Ahly), Ibrahim Adel (Nordsjaelland), Haissem Hassan (Real Ovideo).

Forwards: Omar Marmoush (Manchester City), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Aqtay Abdallah (Enppi), Hamza Abdelkarim (Barcelona).

Source: BBC

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued a landslide early warning for several Divisional Secretariat Divisions in Gampaha, Ratnapura, and Kalutara districts as adverse weather conditions continue to impact parts of the country.

According to the NBRO, the warning will remain in effect until 3:00 a.m. tomorrow (23), with residents in affected areas urged to remain vigilant.

Under Warning Level 2 (Amber Alert), the Gampaha District’s Attanagalla Divisional Secretariat Division has been identified as being at higher risk.

In the Ratnapura District, Kuruwita and Ratnapura Divisional Secretariat Divisions have also been placed under the same Amber-level warning.

Meanwhile, Warning Level 1 (Yellow Watch) has been issued for Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara District and Eheliyagoda in the Ratnapura District.

Authorities have advised residents in all listed areas to stay alert as weather conditions remain unstable and further risks may develop.

A severed human head has washed ashore on the beach located behind a popular tourist hotel in Moragalla, Aluthgama.

According to police, the discovery was made following a telephone call received this morning (23), after which officers from the Aluthgama Police carried out investigations at the scene.

The remains have been identified as belonging to a male individual; however, his identity has not yet been established, said police.

Aluthgama Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.

(Adaderana.lk)