Prime minister arrives in Chiang Rai, gives moral support to rescuers

CHIANG RAI, June 29 (TNA) – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha arrived in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province to supervise attempts to search for 13 people trapped in the flooded Tham Luang cave and to give moral support to all parties involved in the incident. His delegation included Deputy Prime Minister Chatchai Sarikulya and Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda. They joined officials who were trying to reach 12 boys aged 11-16 and their football coach aged 26 who have been missing in the long and winding cave since last Saturday. Rescuers were accelerating pumps to drain water in the cave. The water level in the first chamber of the cave is about 70 meters deep, slightly lower than yesterday’s level as water is flowing into the cave. Theerapong Burirak, Chiang Mai director of the Provincial Electricity Authority, said the PEA was sending 13,700 meters long of waterproof wires to Tham Luang cave in addition to the first lot of 4,000 meters. The wires would support rescuers in pumping water out of the cave. (TNA)