Rescuers on Sunday evacuated four members of the Wild Boar soccer team from a flooded cave where they had been trapped for more than two weeks. The entire operation to rescue all 13 could last two to four days, depending on weather and water conditions, said army Major General Chalongchai Chaiyakam.
According to Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn, rescue operations to retrieve the remaining boys and a coach will resume in the next 10-20 hours.
Thai Cave Rescue Operation Live Updates: Four boys emerged from the cave in northern Thailand where 12 young footballers and their coach had been trapped for more than two weeks, a rescuer said on Sunday night. The rescued boys were taken to a field hospital near the cave in Thailand's northern Chiang Rai province. Helicopters were seen hovering above the cave site, reports Xinhua news agency.
Thailand Cave Rescue Operation Live Updates: According to Narongsak Osottanakorn, the chief of rescue operation, only four boys of Wild Boar football team have been rescued from a flooded cave. Earlier, it was reported that six boys were evacuated.
Thailand Cave Rescue Operation Live Updates: Everything is going according to plan. We are hopeful that the rescue mission will be over by mid-night today, said Head of Operation in a press conference.
Thailand Cave Rescue Operation Live Updates: US President Donald Trump tweeted US is helping Thai government rescue boys from cave. "The U.S. is working very closely with the Government of Thailand to help get all of the children out of the cave and to safety. Very brave and talented people!" Trump tweeted.
Thai Cave Rescue Operation Live Updates: The Thai Navy SEAL official Facebook page says that four members of the Wild Boar soccer team are out of the cave.
Thai Cave Rescue Operation Live Updates: Three more trapped boys of the Thailand football team have been rescued, reported India Today. Six trapped persons have been brought out safely so far.
Thai Cave Rescue Operation Live Updates: Three members of the trapped Thailand football team have been evacuated from a flooded cave, CNN reports quoting a rescuer.
Bangkok, July 8: Specialist divers managed to rescue three members of the trapped Thai football team from a cave on Sunday, reports CNN. A perilous rescue mission to bring other boys out is still underway. An international contingent of 13 specialist divers descended into the watery network of underground tunnels today to pull out trapped persons. Catch live updates on Thai cave rescue operation here.
Earlier today, Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn said it was an important day for the rescue mission. "Our readiness is at the highest today. Today is D-day," he said. Rescuers had used a giant water pump into cave to withdraw water out. SpaceX founder Elon Musk also sent a team to assist rescuers in the mission.
With more rain coming, Thai rescuers are racing against time to pump out water from a flooded cave before they can rescue the football team members and their coach. The boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach, are huddled together in a small chamber 4 km inside the cave, surrounded by flood water and with a limited supply of oxygen.
They went missing on June 23 after they had entered the cave complex when the weather was fine. However, they became trapped when a sudden rainfall flooded the narrow tunnels. Tragically, a former Thai Navy diver who joined the ongoing rescue operations died on Friday.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 08, 2018 06:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).