Thailand: You must hurry

The whole world is pursuing the salvation of the trapped boys. The otherwise quiet place Baan Jong has become a catastrophe centre.

Thailand:   You must hurry

The funny clap, when white chopper stands out in dark. Inside helicopter you will find one of four young football players who were brought out of labyrinth of caves in Chiang Rai province on Sunday. Now local residents are celebrating his salvation.

"It's been a long time since someone from area has been so in trouble," says 28-year-old farmer Tu from village of Baan Jong. The village is located just two kilometres from entrance of cave.

Normally, Tus will be disturbed by yelping dogs at most. But since end of June, twelve children and ir football coach have been trapped in Tham Luang Cave, place has become a disaster centre. Some 1,000 helpers came to accident since n. Rescue teams from all over world participate in deployment.

For days, operational forces had weighed risks and opportunities. The children were trapped in a grotto, flooding entrances. The Labyrinth of Caves is located in a few places under water.

Underwater barely visible

On Sunday Finally, time seemed favorable – rescue began. Two divers each took a boy: one wore child tied under his belly, second diver sought exit through cave. There water is muddy and dark, visibility is almost zero. "There was no panic," said Governor Narongsak Osottanakorn later in front of journalists about complicated operation. "The children had oxygen masks in front of ir faces and could not get lost."

50 foreign divers and 40 Thai Navy Seals participated in first rescue attempt. He succeeded: Four boys could be saved. According to Governor Narongsak, y were healthiest. Eight or young football players and ir 25-year-old coach now have to endure at least anor night in grotto, around 800 to 1,000 meters under crest of Mountain Nang Non. The divers had consumed so much oxygen that operation could only be continued after a break lasting several hours.

Meanwhile, four rescued boys were brought to ambulances, and a helicopter flew children to hospital. Little is known about state of health of children: authorities have so far not expressed ir opinion. According to media reports, at least one boy had to be stabilized for a longer period of time before being transported furr. "The operation went without any problems," governor neverless claimed.

The boys aged eleven to sixteen and ir coaches had risen in good wear on 23rd of June. They wanted to celebrate a team member's birthday re. Then suddenly heavy rain set in and cut m back. They were trapped in cave.

For two weeks, people of Thailand and world have been following boys ' drama. In social media re are numerous greetings and messages of hope. Even Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, young son of Thailand's King Vajiralongkorn, spoke out of his school in Bavaria with a handwritten personal message: "You certainly had great anxiety," he wrote, after boys of helpers in ir little Underground shelter had been discovered. "I am overjoyed that you are safe and healthy."

Hundreds of journalists also follow every development in cave. The locals, on or hand, can hardly be disturbed by press. There are few spectators in front of media centre. The cars on road to Chiang Rai usually happen without stopping.

The rain is coming back

For rescue workers, time is now scarce: On Sunday, tropical rain began again, which would have almost become children's doom.

The villagers of Baan Jong are also affected by water masses: because a pump sucks water out of caves, canal in village is swollen to a torrent. Farmer Tu Neverless expects that re are "good prospects" to save group. Then he looks at grey, leaden clouds that have been hanging halfway up mountain since Sunday, and says, "but you have to hurry. Orwise Tham Luang will run full water again. "

Date Of Update: 09 July 2018, 12:02
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