Cave rescue mission begins

Chiang Rai, July 8 (TNA) - Thai rescuers have decided to begin a rescue operation to extract 12 boys and their football coach who have been trapped for more than two weeks in a cave in northern Thailand on Sunday. Head of the rescue mission Narongsak Osottanakorn announced that 13 world’s top cave divers and five Thai Navy SEALs made up the team and entered the cave at 10 am. “Today is D-day,“ he said. It was the most suitable day because all preparations had been ready, Narongsak said. Heavy monsoon rains are forecast over the mountain range, adding to the urgency of rescue mission. Two divers would guide one boy through the flooded passageways one by one.  The first was expected to come out around 9 pm, Sunday night, he said. The boys were informed and ready while their families had also been told and agreed with the operation, Narongsak added. A round trip to reach the boys inside the massive cave and return takes divers about 11 hours, according to the rescue operation center.  Extracting the boys would be a lengthy process, it could be two or three days before the whole group is freed Rescue teams have been practicing for 3-4 days, while medical teams and ambulances have been all prepared. Narongsak held the press briefing at a local administrative building instead of the cave entrance.  Since Saturday night, the rescue command has asked an army of reporters to leave the forest park and move to the building located several kilometres away. The young footballers and their 25-year-old coach have been trapped in the cave system since June 23, after monsoon rains flooded the cave while they were exploring. The group was found alive nine days later in a small cave chamber. According to Narongsak, the conditions, the weather and floodwater and oxygen, are now most conducive to extraction since the operation began.  The boys’ health has been evaluated as strong, physically and mentally, Narongsak said. (TNA)