Illustrative photo (Photo: CNN) Bangkok (VNA) – Fourmore boys were safely removed from the flooded Thai cave on July 9 as rescuemissions resumed this morning to save the youth football team trapped inside.
The newscomes just hours after rescuers had returned into the cave aiming to bring outmore from the group of boys and their coach, who have been trapped in Tham Luangcave complex in Chiang Rai province for over two weeks now.
Thailand’sInterior Minister AnupongPaojinda said the first four boys rescued on late July 8 arein good health and expected to meet their parents tonight after a 24-hourseparation to ensure they are not at risk of developing diseases stemming fromtheir ordeal.
The firstfour boys emerged separately from the cave between 5:30pm and 6pm (Thailandtime) and each accompanied by two divers in the rescue effort launched at 10amthe same day.
Rescuers planned to get the football team out ofthe cave in four groups, with the healthiest taken out first. The rest would besplit into groups of three, and the coach would be in the last group.
Speakingat a press conference on July 9, missionchief Narongsak Osottanakorn said thesecond operation began at 11am. Water levels inside the cave dropped a further 30cm on July 8,the lowest,thanks to continuous pumping efforts.
The boys –members of the Wild Boars football team between the ages of 11 and 16 – hadbeen exploring the cave network with their coach on June 23, when heavy seasonal rains flooded the cave’s entrance,forcing the group further and further into the labyrinth of tunnels in searchof higher ground.
They were found alive on July 2 after 10 days ofbeing trapped in the flooded cave complex. -VNA
VNA
