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Thailand cave rescue: officials evacuate site for 'rescue operation' – live Thailand cave rescue: officials confirm rescue operation has begun – live
(35 minutes later)
A spokesman is speaking now and said they had been aided by lower-than-expected rainfall.
The governor said the earliest the boys would come out was 9pm tonight, due to the long journey from where they are located and the entrance, and they cannot guarantee the mission will be completed today, because the boys will all come out gradually.
The rescue mission has begun, the governor has confirmed at a press conference this morning.
18 divers have been sent into the caves to retrieve the 12 boys and their football coach. The 13 people inside the cave have been informed and are ready and their families have been informed.
Medical teams have been rehearsing for three days and are ready to treat the group when they emerge.
The governor said that the factors affecting the readiness for any rescue attempt are the weather, the water, and the readiness of the team the condition of the boys.
“Today is the peak of our readiness,” said Narongsak.
It is possible for divers to advance to the third chamber on foot. It’s not dry but it’s the lowest the water level has been, said the governor.
At 10am, 18 divers entered the cave – 13 international divers and five Thai divers.
“Today is the peak of our readiness,” said Narongsak Osottanakorn, a former provincial governor who is leading the rescue efforts.
The official also said that no shafts found by search teams in the jungle have potential, ruling out drilling as a possible way to rescue the boys.
“I can confirm we will wait until we are 100% ready until we start the action,” said the official.
The press conference has begun and officials have thanked the media for their cooperation, saying they need space to work.
“We will still maintain our planned mission and the two main obstacles are time and water,” the spokesperson said.
Michael Safi and Veena Thoopkrajae are standing by for the press conference, waiting to hear what officials have to say about this morning’s dramatic events.
Waiting for first official word on dramatic morning #ThamLuangCave @MsKateLyons pic.twitter.com/HFP0A4kOOb
In case you haven’t seen it, the boys and their parents, who have been unable to communicate for more than two weeks, have exchanged letters with one another, carried by navy divers.
“To all the kids,” one letter, written by the mother of Nattawut Takamsai, 14, said. “We are not mad at you at all. Do take good care of yourself. Don’t forget to cover yourself with blankets as the weather is cold. We’re worried. You will come out soon.”
She wrote to Ekkapol Chantawong, the coach: “We want you to know that no parents are angry with you at all, so don’t you worry about that.”
In their notes the children have said they want to go home as soon as they are out of the cave, that they are strong and not to worry about them. Many also placed requests for their favourite meals when they get out of the cave.
One boy told his parents: “Don’t worry, I’m fine. Please tell Yod to take me out to a fried chicken shop.”
Our stories on those letters are here and here:
For our full guide to where the boys are and how they might be rescued, click here.For our full guide to where the boys are and how they might be rescued, click here.
A reminder of where the boys are and the difficulty of the rescue mission.A reminder of where the boys are and the difficulty of the rescue mission.
Though rescuers have been able to clear a huge amount of water out of the cave system, meaning it is possible to wade through the first 1.5km of the cave, parts of the journey are still treacherous and it is an 11-hour round trip for experienced adult divers.Though rescuers have been able to clear a huge amount of water out of the cave system, meaning it is possible to wade through the first 1.5km of the cave, parts of the journey are still treacherous and it is an 11-hour round trip for experienced adult divers.
On Saturday another 10 members of the rescue mission – part of a team assigned to explore the mountain to look for chimneys that might lead to the cave – were injured when a car they were travelling in fell off a cliff.On Saturday another 10 members of the rescue mission – part of a team assigned to explore the mountain to look for chimneys that might lead to the cave – were injured when a car they were travelling in fell off a cliff.
AFP reports their injuries were not believed to be serious, though blogger Richard Barrow, who is in Thailand, wrote one person was believed to be “badly injured”.AFP reports their injuries were not believed to be serious, though blogger Richard Barrow, who is in Thailand, wrote one person was believed to be “badly injured”.
There are obviously serious concerns for the safety of all rescuers, especially in light of the tragic death of Saman Kunan, the former Thai navy Seal diver, on Friday.There are obviously serious concerns for the safety of all rescuers, especially in light of the tragic death of Saman Kunan, the former Thai navy Seal diver, on Friday.
Some bad news from the #ThamLuang rescue site. A vehicle carrying rescue workers has crashed, badly injuring one person. In addition it has just started to rain heavily. Which is very bad news for the trapped boys #Thailand pic.twitter.com/koayH0fdzZSome bad news from the #ThamLuang rescue site. A vehicle carrying rescue workers has crashed, badly injuring one person. In addition it has just started to rain heavily. Which is very bad news for the trapped boys #Thailand pic.twitter.com/koayH0fdzZ
Jacob Goldberg, one of our reporters on the ground, reports that officials are now clearing the roads into the cave site, including towing away parked cars.
cops clearing the road leading away from the cave, presumably for the ambulances. pic.twitter.com/inVPL05y7P
A Bangkok Post reporter has said on Twitter that the first stage of the operation will be to recover four boys.
“Sending support and prayers to the Seal unit and the first four kids to come out safe,” Wassana Nanuam wrote on Twitter.
The Guardian has not been able to confirm this and officials have not confirmed details of the operation.
ส่งกำลังใจ และช่วยกันภาวนา ให้”หน่วยSeal”และน้องๆหมูป่าฯ4 คนแรก ออกมาอย่างปลอดภัย
There is speculation that the order for journalists and non-essential personnel to leave the site came as officials became increasingly irritated by the growing media presence at the site. Hundreds of reporters have arrived at the cave site over the last week.
The press conference, which was due to start half an hour ago, has not yet begun. We’ll have updates from that as soon as it does.
Our south Asia correspondent Michael Safi has learned that divers are at the site and the rescue operation will begin soon, but it hasn’t commenced yet and divers are yet to go into the caves.
The press conference is due to start in about five minutes, we will let you know when that has begun and as soon as we have any news from it.
Thai authorities have announced that the evacuation of the area has occurred so that a “rescue operation” can take place.
Media and others not involved in the rescue operation have been asked to leave the cave site area.
Officials also announced that during the operation no one is allowed to take photos and if any unsuitable photos come out the person will be held responsible.
Divers and medics have been arriving at the site all morning and there are signs that a mission could begin imminently, with ambulances gathering at the site and the relatives’ room deserted.
Rain fell early on Sunday, which may have inspired the action at the site.
The coordinator of the rescue efforts said rescuers were still in a “war with water and time” as monsoon rainclouds loomed over the north of the country early on Sunday.
The 12 boys and their football coach have been trapped inside the cave for 15 days now, after they ventured into the caves on 23 June and got trapped by rising waters.
They were discovered by British divers on Monday night after a nine-day round-the-clock search involving teams from all over the world.
Veena Thoopkrajae and Michael Safi have left the cave site as instructed by Thai officials and are on their way to a press conference where we hope they will be given an update from officials about today’s activities at the site.
Veena has this video from the site as they drove out.
Our parting shot @MsKateLyons #ThamLuang pic.twitter.com/E2e4B9pnF8
“We are still at war with water and time,” Narongsak Osottanakorn, a former provincial governor leading the rescue efforts has said.
He told reporters yesterday that the “ideal time” for a rescue could come in the next two or three days, though he has repeatedly warned that the arrival of heavy monsoon rains, which have been due to arrive all week, could push them to begin the rescue mission early.
More on the involvement of Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, who was approached to assist with the rescue mission.
Musk tweeted overnight that a team from his rocket company SpaceX in Los Angeles is building a mini-sub to help with the rescue.
“Got more great feedback from Thailand. Primary path is basically a tiny, kid-size submarine ... Light enough to be carried by 2 divers, small enough to get through narrow gaps. Extremely robust,” Musk tweeted.
Got more great feedback from Thailand. Primary path is basically a tiny, kid-size submarine using the liquid oxygen transfer tube of Falcon rocket as hull. Light enough to be carried by 2 divers, small enough to get through narrow gaps. Extremely robust.
This is actually surprisingly similar to the rescue ideas that people from around the world have been emailing in to me and my colleague Michael Safi all week.
Musk said his mini-sub would take eight hours to construct and 17 hours to transport to Thailand. It is unclear whether Musk’s device will be used in the rescue operation that seems to be imminent at the cave, but given the time frame, it seems unlikely.
The Thai defence ministry said a team from a Musk firm with drilling and exploration know-how should reach the cave on Sunday.
Jacob Goldberg, who is still inside the cave rescue site, has this footage of divers arriving at the cave site, to be mobbed by reporters.
Reporters and all those not directly involved in the rescue operation have been banned from entering the site, and those already inside have been give until 9am to clear out.
some reporters crowding the divers 😕 the divers are silent. pic.twitter.com/2nLejFJF3H
Army medics have arrived at the site, reports Michael Safi.
Army medics arriving this morning @MsKateLyons #ThamLuangCave pic.twitter.com/wyYJYU1Vft