Thailand’s Tham Luang cave to become museum

Rescuers at work to save the stranded football team (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Tham Luang cave complex in Chiang Rai province of northern Thailand, where 12 young footballers and their coach were trapped inside from June 23 before they were all safely brought out on July 10, will be turned into a museum to showcase the rescue.

Head of the rescue operation Norongsak Osottanakorn revealed the information on July 11, one day after the operation successfully completed.

Speaking at a press conference, Osottanakorn said the area will become a living museum to show how the operation unfolded. An interactive database will be set up and the location will be another major attraction in Thailand, he added.

Thai officials said plans are in place to develop it into a tourist destination.

However, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on July 10 extra precautions need to be implemented both inside and outside the cave to safeguard tourists.

The 12 boys, who are members of the “Wild Boars” football team, aged between 11 and 16 years, were exploring the cave with their 25 year-old coach on June 23, when heavy seasonal rains flooded the cave's entrance, forcing the group to go further and further into the labyrinth of tunnels in search of higher ground.

They were found alive on July 2 after 10 days of being trapped in the flooded cave complex.

A team of 90 divers, including 50 from foreign countries, participated in the rescue efforts which ended successfully on July 10, with all the members and their coach brought out safely from the cave.

However, a former navy SEAL, Saman Kunan, died on July 6 while replenishing air tanks inside the cave.-VNA