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Thailand cave rescue: officials confirm rescue operation has begun – live Thailand cave rescue: officials confirm rescue operation has begun – live
(35 minutes later)
Our reporter, Jacob Goldberg, says that camera crews – barred from the cave site and forbidden from taking pictures of the rescue – are camping out near the entrance to the site, trying to get as close as they can to the cave’s entrance.
The divers set off at 10am local time. It is currently just after 1:30pm in Thailand. We have been told not to expect the first boy to emerge from the cave until 9pm, so as Jacob writes “it will be a long, wet wait”.
camera crews are camping out in the bushes near the entrance to the rescue site. it will be a long, wet wait. pic.twitter.com/8n0ccX3gW0
The Thai navy Seals have posted a photograph to Facebook about the rescue mission that five of their number have embarked on.
“We, the Thai navy Seals, along with the international diver team, are ready to bring the soccer team home!” they wrote in the caption of the post.
Five Thai divers, whom Narongsak Osatanakorn, the coordinator of the rescue mission, described as “some of our best” will join 13 expert international divers in a rescue mission to bring the 12 boys and their football coach out of the cave.
The mission could take days, with Narongsak saying the first boy could emerge at about 9pm local time – 11 hours after the mission commenced.
Thai navy Seals have been staying with the boys in the cave since they were found on Monday night and officials have spoken of the importance of having Thai-speaking divers, with whom the boys have formed a bond, as part of the rescue mission.
The Seals experienced a blow on Friday when one of their former members, Saman Kunan, who was volunteering in the rescue mission, died while returning from the cave where thee boys are trapped.
Veena Thoopkrajae who is on the ground working for the Guardian, reports that traffic around Chiang Rai Prachanukroh hospital, which is where officials plan to send the boys when they get them out of the cave, has been closed.
The hospital is about 57 km from the cave.
Elon Musk has wished the “extremely talented dive team” luck on their mission, in a tweet that seems to indicate his involvement in the rescue efforts may have come to an end.Elon Musk has wished the “extremely talented dive team” luck on their mission, in a tweet that seems to indicate his involvement in the rescue efforts may have come to an end.
Earlier this week, the billionaire entrepreneur was approached to assist with the rescue mission.Earlier this week, the billionaire entrepreneur was approached to assist with the rescue mission.
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.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.
Musk tweeted overnight that a team from his rocket company SpaceX in Los Angeles was building a mini-sub to help with the rescue, and that it would take eight hours to construct the mini-sub and 17 hours to transport it to Thailand.Musk tweeted overnight that a team from his rocket company SpaceX in Los Angeles was building a mini-sub to help with the rescue, and that it would take eight hours to construct the mini-sub and 17 hours to transport it to Thailand.
However, after today’s news that the rescue mission had begun he tweeted: “Extremely talented dive team. Makes sense given monsoon. Godspeed.”However, after today’s news that the rescue mission had begun he tweeted: “Extremely talented dive team. Makes sense given monsoon. Godspeed.”
We understand that the Australian doctor who gave the boys the final approval for the operation is a civilian who has extensive cave-diving experience and was specifically requested by British divers involved in the operation.We understand that the Australian doctor who gave the boys the final approval for the operation is a civilian who has extensive cave-diving experience and was specifically requested by British divers involved in the operation.
He is now part of the rescue mission – though we are unclear if he is one of the 18 divers inside. Authorities say they are not approved to release his name and can’t ask his permission because he’s currently involved in the mission.He is now part of the rescue mission – though we are unclear if he is one of the 18 divers inside. Authorities say they are not approved to release his name and can’t ask his permission because he’s currently involved in the mission.
Thai authorities have confirmed that a rescue operation is under way.Thai authorities have confirmed that a rescue operation is under way.
At 10am local time they sent 18 divers into the cave to bring out the boys – including 13 international divers and five Thai navy Seals. The former governor in charge of the rescue operation called the international divers “all-stars” and the Thai divers “five of our best”.At 10am local time they sent 18 divers into the cave to bring out the boys – including 13 international divers and five Thai navy Seals. The former governor in charge of the rescue operation called the international divers “all-stars” and the Thai divers “five of our best”.
Water levels have dropped significantly since Saturday, and officials say that they are now at “peak readiness”.Water levels have dropped significantly since Saturday, and officials say that they are now at “peak readiness”.
Officials would not confirm if the boys would have to dive out of the caves, but said that water levels had dropped enough that much of the cave network was walkable.Officials would not confirm if the boys would have to dive out of the caves, but said that water levels had dropped enough that much of the cave network was walkable.
It might take up to two days for all the boys and their coach to come out. The boys will be brought out one by one.It might take up to two days for all the boys and their coach to come out. The boys will be brought out one by one.
Officials said that they might stop and start the operation “depending on weather”.Officials said that they might stop and start the operation “depending on weather”.
The first rescued boys could come at 9pm local time on Sunday.The first rescued boys could come at 9pm local time on Sunday.
The children are said to be in high spirits and “ready to go”. The families have been informed about the plan and have also agreed.The children are said to be in high spirits and “ready to go”. The families have been informed about the plan and have also agreed.
Earlier today all media and non-rescue personnel were cleared from the cave site area.Earlier today all media and non-rescue personnel were cleared from the cave site area.
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 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.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.They were discovered by British divers on Monday night after a nine-day round-the-clock search involving teams from all over the world.
Narongsak Osatanakorn, the governor of Chiang Rai province, has said the boys are “very determined” and ready to come out.Narongsak Osatanakorn, the governor of Chiang Rai province, has said the boys are “very determined” and ready to come out.
“The kids are very determined and they are of high-spirit. All 13 have been informed about the operation and they are ready to come out. They firmly decide to come out with us.”“The kids are very determined and they are of high-spirit. All 13 have been informed about the operation and they are ready to come out. They firmly decide to come out with us.”
The childrens’ families also support the mission, he said.The childrens’ families also support the mission, he said.
The governor said the medical team had been rehearsing for the past four days.The governor said the medical team had been rehearsing for the past four days.
“Any bit of confusion is not allowed. We practiced the whole day yesterday. I assure you that we are very ready in this mission.”“Any bit of confusion is not allowed. We practiced the whole day yesterday. I assure you that we are very ready in this mission.”
Earlier in the week, our correspondents in Thailand wrote a piece about the boys from the Wild Boars football team who are trapped inside the cave. The team includes Chanin Wiboonrungrueng, 11, the youngest in the squad, and left-winger Adul Sam-on, 14, whose English skills have earned him admiration at home.Earlier in the week, our correspondents in Thailand wrote a piece about the boys from the Wild Boars football team who are trapped inside the cave. The team includes Chanin Wiboonrungrueng, 11, the youngest in the squad, and left-winger Adul Sam-on, 14, whose English skills have earned him admiration at home.
You can read the full report here:You can read the full report here:
As he announced the launch of a rescue mission to free the children, the governor said:As he announced the launch of a rescue mission to free the children, the governor said:
Today we are most ready. Today is D-Day. Today at 10am, 13 foreign divers went in to extract the children, along with five [Thai] navy Seals.Today we are most ready. Today is D-Day. Today at 10am, 13 foreign divers went in to extract the children, along with five [Thai] navy Seals.
As we look at the weather forecast, a storm is coming and torrential rain is expected, then our 100% readiness will decrease and we will have to pump the water out again,” he said.As we look at the weather forecast, a storm is coming and torrential rain is expected, then our 100% readiness will decrease and we will have to pump the water out again,” he said.
As for the kid factor, the kids are very determined and they are of high spirit. All 13 kids have been informed about the operation and they are ready to come out. They firmly decided to come out with us.As for the kid factor, the kids are very determined and they are of high spirit. All 13 kids have been informed about the operation and they are ready to come out. They firmly decided to come out with us.
The families of the kids have been informed and they agree with us.The families of the kids have been informed and they agree with us.
We’ve rehearsed [the medical preparations] for the past three to four days. We even practiced with a real kid – practicing the position of O2 tank and the marking ... I assure you that we are very ready in this mission.We’ve rehearsed [the medical preparations] for the past three to four days. We even practiced with a real kid – practicing the position of O2 tank and the marking ... I assure you that we are very ready in this mission.
I ask you all to patiently wait for news and send support and wish them success.”I ask you all to patiently wait for news and send support and wish them success.”
Our full story on today’s dramatic events and the rescue mission currently under way is here.Our full story on today’s dramatic events and the rescue mission currently under way is here.
Officials have not confirmed whether the boys would need to dive during the mission, but have suggested that much of the route can be walked.Officials have not confirmed whether the boys would need to dive during the mission, but have suggested that much of the route can be walked.
“Although there are some slightly difficult parts that we have to bend or crawl [in] we can say that we can just walk through,” Narongsak Osatanakorn, former governor of Chiang Rai province, who is heading up the rescue operation said of conditions in the cave.“Although there are some slightly difficult parts that we have to bend or crawl [in] we can say that we can just walk through,” Narongsak Osatanakorn, former governor of Chiang Rai province, who is heading up the rescue operation said of conditions in the cave.
“We have done extremely well as yesterday we were able to reduce the water level by 30cm, the record of what we’ve achieved.”“We have done extremely well as yesterday we were able to reduce the water level by 30cm, the record of what we’ve achieved.”
However, the governor was asked directly if the boys would need to dive and declined to answer, saying only that most of the path would be walkable.However, the governor was asked directly if the boys would need to dive and declined to answer, saying only that most of the path would be walkable.
The governor said that preparations, which have been ongoing for most of the last week, stepped up last night as conditions improved.The governor said that preparations, which have been ongoing for most of the last week, stepped up last night as conditions improved.
“At 9pm last night we started clearing many things because we have reached the peak point of readiness,” he said.“At 9pm last night we started clearing many things because we have reached the peak point of readiness,” he said.
“The meaning of readiness is ... perfect weather, water [levels] and the kids’ readiness, physical and mental,” he said.“The meaning of readiness is ... perfect weather, water [levels] and the kids’ readiness, physical and mental,” he said.
“There is no time limit for the operation,” the governor said.“There is no time limit for the operation,” the governor said.
“It depends on the weather, it depends on the water levels. If something changes we’ll stop. But I expect the operation to finish within the next couple of days.”“It depends on the weather, it depends on the water levels. If something changes we’ll stop. But I expect the operation to finish within the next couple of days.”