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May 27 (Reuters) - 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.

"As of 4:30 p.m. (0930 GMT), we found five people. We will continue ‌to search for the ⁠other two," said Kengkard Bongkawong, head of the Thai rescue team.

Another Thai volunteer rescuer, ⁠Chakrakrit Taengtung, posted a video on social media with him and the five all cheering.

The video showed ​they were ​in good spirits, raising ​their arms into the ‌air and smiling.

The seven Lao nationals had entered the cave in Xaisomboun province last week to look for gold before heavy rain and a landslide blocked their exit, according to a local volunteer group and ‌state-run Lao Phattha News.

A Thai ​volunteer group joined the rescue ​operation on Sunday. The ​team included a diver who took ‌part in the 2018 rescue ​of 12 boys ​and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in northern Thailand, an operation that drew global ​attention and ‌involved British and other foreign divers, U.S. military ​personnel and other international support.

(Reporting by Chayut ​Setboonsarng, Editing by Hugh Lawson)