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Thai cave rescue: fifth boy emerges, officials confirm, as rescue effort continues – live Thai cave rescue: sixth boy rescued as mission to save others continues – live
(35 minutes later)
AP describes the difficulty of getting officials to go on the record about the details of the rescue operations.
Thai authorities are being tight-lipped about who was inside an ambulance seen leaving the site, as they were the night before when four of the 13 people trapped inside the underground complex were rescued.
Multiple calls to senior government officials and military personnel leading the operation to rescue the members of the youth soccer team rang unanswered Monday evening.
On Sunday, officials waited until several hours after the rescued boys had been transported to hospitals to announce their rescue.
A sixth boy has been rescued, a source inside the rescue team has confirmed to the Guardian.
Can confirm sixth boy is now out #thamluangcave
Reports are now emerging of a sixth boy coming out.
The Thai prime minister was supposed to visit the site at 6pm but is now hanging around Chiang Rai so as not to disrupt the operation.
The Guardian is trying to confirm the report of a sixth rescue.
BREAKING: I am now hearing a SIXTH boy has left the #thamluang cave and is being treated by medics at the field hospital #thaicaverescue
Thai public television has broadcast live video of a medivac helicopter landing close to a hospital in the city of Chiang Rai, near the site of the cave, AP reports.Thai public television has broadcast live video of a medivac helicopter landing close to a hospital in the city of Chiang Rai, near the site of the cave, AP reports.
Medics appeared to remove one person on a stretcher but hid the person’s identity behind multiple white umbrellas. An ambulance was seen leaving the scene immediately afterward early Monday evening.Medics appeared to remove one person on a stretcher but hid the person’s identity behind multiple white umbrellas. An ambulance was seen leaving the scene immediately afterward early Monday evening.
Less than an hour earlier, an ambulance with flashing lights had left the cave complex, hours after the start of the second phase of an operation to rescue the soccer team.Less than an hour earlier, an ambulance with flashing lights had left the cave complex, hours after the start of the second phase of an operation to rescue the soccer team.
Nine people remained trapped in the cave, including the 12-member team’s coach, after four boys were rescued on Sunday, the first day of the rescue operation.Nine people remained trapped in the cave, including the 12-member team’s coach, after four boys were rescued on Sunday, the first day of the rescue operation.
Pad Krapow, Thai basil leaves with meat and rice, was the meal the boys rescued on Sunday, according to Narongsak Osottanakorn, the head of the joint command centre coordinating the mission.Pad Krapow, Thai basil leaves with meat and rice, was the meal the boys rescued on Sunday, according to Narongsak Osottanakorn, the head of the joint command centre coordinating the mission.
“They made a special request that they wished to have Pad Krapow,” Narongsak told a press briefing.“They made a special request that they wished to have Pad Krapow,” Narongsak told a press briefing.
Kay Plunkett-Hogge has more on the dish.Kay Plunkett-Hogge has more on the dish.
fyi: Spicy stir-fry meat with Thai basil or "Khao Pad Krapow" that the rescued 4 Wild Boars crave is known among Thai as thoughtless dish. Most Thais order the dish when they run out of ideas what to eat. #Thamluang #Moopa #13ชีวิตต้องรอดfyi: Spicy stir-fry meat with Thai basil or "Khao Pad Krapow" that the rescued 4 Wild Boars crave is known among Thai as thoughtless dish. Most Thais order the dish when they run out of ideas what to eat. #Thamluang #Moopa #13ชีวิตต้องรอด
The sight of the ambulance reaching the helipad was greeted by cheers, according to AP.The sight of the ambulance reaching the helipad was greeted by cheers, according to AP.
An ambulance with flashing lights left the site of a flooded cave in northern Thailand where a youth soccer team has been trapped for two weeks, just hours after the second phase of a rescue operation was launched.An ambulance with flashing lights left the site of a flooded cave in northern Thailand where a youth soccer team has been trapped for two weeks, just hours after the second phase of a rescue operation was launched.
The ambulance drove toward a helipad, where a helicopter was seen taking off shortly after to the cheers of the crowd below. The same process was used Sunday for at least one of the four boys rescued in the first attempt at getting the 12 boys and their coach out of the underground complex.The ambulance drove toward a helipad, where a helicopter was seen taking off shortly after to the cheers of the crowd below. The same process was used Sunday for at least one of the four boys rescued in the first attempt at getting the 12 boys and their coach out of the underground complex.
Here’s our updated full report on the rescue of the fifth boy.Here’s our updated full report on the rescue of the fifth boy.
Thai TV stations have been broadcasting footage of an ambulance, believed to be carrying the fifth rescued boy, driving from the cave to a waiting helicopter.Thai TV stations have been broadcasting footage of an ambulance, believed to be carrying the fifth rescued boy, driving from the cave to a waiting helicopter.
The helicopter was seen heading south towards Chiang Rai where the other rescued boys are treated in hospital.The helicopter was seen heading south towards Chiang Rai where the other rescued boys are treated in hospital.
in the span of a few seconds, an ambulance and a helicopter went past the press center in mae sai. we’re working to confirm reports that a 5th boy has been rescued from #ThamLuang cave. | @matthew_weaver pic.twitter.com/taPXrX5QYGin the span of a few seconds, an ambulance and a helicopter went past the press center in mae sai. we’re working to confirm reports that a 5th boy has been rescued from #ThamLuang cave. | @matthew_weaver pic.twitter.com/taPXrX5QYG
TPBS aired a clip of medics transporting someone on a stretcher from the back of an ambulance to the helicopter at 5:10pm today. No. 5? https://t.co/c3V6cWnS9iTPBS aired a clip of medics transporting someone on a stretcher from the back of an ambulance to the helicopter at 5:10pm today. No. 5? https://t.co/c3V6cWnS9i
เมื่อเวลา 17.15 น. เฮลิคอปเตอร์ยกตัวขึ้น แต่สื่อได้รับการยืนยันว่าเป็น ฮ.ตำรวจ ไม่ใช่ ฮ. ที่พาหมูป่าคนที่ 5 ไปส่งโรงพยาบาล #ถ้ำหลวง #หมูป่าอะคาเดมีแม่สาย pic.twitter.com/bJQnsaQRlaเมื่อเวลา 17.15 น. เฮลิคอปเตอร์ยกตัวขึ้น แต่สื่อได้รับการยืนยันว่าเป็น ฮ.ตำรวจ ไม่ใช่ ฮ. ที่พาหมูป่าคนที่ 5 ไปส่งโรงพยาบาล #ถ้ำหลวง #หมูป่าอะคาเดมีแม่สาย pic.twitter.com/bJQnsaQRla
A source inside the rescue operation has confirmed to the Guardian a fifth boy emerged from the cave not long ago.A source inside the rescue operation has confirmed to the Guardian a fifth boy emerged from the cave not long ago.
An ambulance rush past and about five minutes later a helicopter flew over the media centre site to cheers from many of the Thai volunteers.An ambulance rush past and about five minutes later a helicopter flew over the media centre site to cheers from many of the Thai volunteers.
An ambulance has left the site amid multiple reports of fifth boy being rescued.An ambulance has left the site amid multiple reports of fifth boy being rescued.
I now have a source confirming a fifth boy has been rescued from #thamluang. An ambulance has just left the site. https://t.co/vIsMpGtZ7VI now have a source confirming a fifth boy has been rescued from #thamluang. An ambulance has just left the site. https://t.co/vIsMpGtZ7V
17.03 หมูป่า คนที่5 เคลื่อนย้ายออกไปแล้ว ส่งรพ.เชียงราย #ถ้ำหลวง #เนชั่นทีวี #ขุนน้ำนางนอน pic.twitter.com/rzKuoO4a7817.03 หมูป่า คนที่5 เคลื่อนย้ายออกไปแล้ว ส่งรพ.เชียงราย #ถ้ำหลวง #เนชั่นทีวี #ขุนน้ำนางนอน pic.twitter.com/rzKuoO4a78
Local TV said a fifth boy was rescued at 4.23pm. CNN’s witness said it was 4.27pm.Local TV said a fifth boy was rescued at 4.23pm. CNN’s witness said it was 4.27pm.
A source at the site told the Guardian the fifth boy had not emerged “yet”, as of 5.07pm local time but would likely be out “soon”.A source at the site told the Guardian the fifth boy had not emerged “yet”, as of 5.07pm local time but would likely be out “soon”.
UPDATE at 5pm: The 5th boy left the cave at 4:23pm and went to the field hospital.RT @SpringNews_TV: 16.23 น. หมู 5 ขึ้นรถพยาบาลไป รพ.สนาม #ThamLuang #พาทีมหมูป่ากลับบ้าน #ถ้ำหลวง #Thailand pic.twitter.com/Dus3xKfO2VUPDATE at 5pm: The 5th boy left the cave at 4:23pm and went to the field hospital.RT @SpringNews_TV: 16.23 น. หมู 5 ขึ้นรถพยาบาลไป รพ.สนาม #ThamLuang #พาทีมหมูป่ากลับบ้าน #ถ้ำหลวง #Thailand pic.twitter.com/Dus3xKfO2V
Reuters is reporting that fifth person has been rescued.
Rescue workers in Thailand were seen carrying a person on a stretcher away from a cave complex and into a waiting ambulance on Monday, a Reuters witness said.
The first four boys, from the group of 13, including the coach, were rescued on Sunday.
The entrance to the cave is cordoned off.
CNN is reporting that a fifth boy has been seen being rescued from the cave. It cited a member of the rescue team who said a boy was seen on a stretcher at 4.27pm local time emerging from the entrance. This has not been confirmed.
Narongsak for Thai PM?
Governor Narongsak was recently transferred to another province, but his leadership has earned him a continuing role as chief of the rescue mission, as well as calls on social media that he become prime minister. #ThaiCaveRescue pic.twitter.com/jjg57cpySB
The current incumbent, Prayut Chan-O-Cha, is due to visit the rescue operation later on Monday.
There remains considerable global interest in the rescue attempt despite other distractions this week.
Support for Thai cave rescue mission, now in its second day, spotted inside #London’s Angel tube station #ThaiCaveRescue pic.twitter.com/zoW01U326A
#พาทีมหมูป่ากลับบ้าน #ถํ้าหลวง #ถ้ําหลวงขุนน้ํานางนอน #ThamLuang #ThaiNavySEAL #ThaiCaveRescue #ThailandCaveRescue #thailandcaves #ThailandCaveKids CR.SISIDEA @ fanpage facebook pic.twitter.com/1elImdN5L7
The cartoon above, by the artist Sisidea, is being widely shared on Thai social media. It portrays each of the groups taking part in this operation using animals.
According to the illustrator, the leader of the operation, Narongsak Osatanakorn, is the elephant – the elephant being the symbol of Chiang Rai province. He is a white elephant too – signifying the rareness of his leadership abilities, the cartoonist says.
The wild boars are obviously the boys – that’s the name of their football team – while the white horses represent the volunteers. The seals are the Thai navy Seals who are coordinating this operation while the frogs represent the Thai and international divers.
The lions are the English divers, the kangaroos, the Australians. The Panda is the Chinese team, the cranes, the Japanese team and the moose are the Swedes. The tigers are the Burmese team and the brown elephants are the Laos specialists. The dogs represent the police and the Iron Man is Elon Musk.
And the birds – the ones flying the opposite direction to everyone else? They would be the media, and the Thai bloggers who have been criticising the operation. Ouch.
Here’s our latest report on the rescue:
Rescue divers have started a second rescue operation to ferry more boys from the northern Thailand cave where they have been trapped for the past 16 days.
Divers at the site told the Guardian on Monday morning they were preparing to re-enter the cave where they spent more than eight hours on Sunday guiding four of the 12 trapped boys to freedom.
Officials later confirmed the divers had entered Tham Luang Nang Non cave at about 11am local time (5am BST). “At 11am we sent the second team,” said Narongsak Osatanakorn, the head of the joint command centre coordinating the operation.
He said the conditions that had triggered Sunday’s operation – declining water levels in the cave, the readiness of rescuers and the physical and mental health of the stranded boys – were the same on Monday morning and the rescue had commenced five hours’ earlier than expected.
How will the rescue work?
Thai authorities confirmed on Sunday that a rescue operation was under way. Eighteen divers entered the cave after water levels dropped significantly.
The boys and their coach will be brought out one-by-one, with each accompanied by two divers in a process that could continue until at least Monday. A doctor with cave-diving experience earlier went into the chamber and approved them for the operation.
Round-the-clock efforts to pump water out of the cave appear to have paid off with conditions said to be walkable in some parts of the 1.7km passageway between the third chamber and the ledge where the team were found sheltering on 2 July.
It is unclear whether the boys themselves will need to dive although they have been trained in how to breathe through scuba masks. The death on Friday of Saman Kunan, a former Thai navy seal, starkly illustrated how dangerous any rescue involving diving apparatus could be. Kunan died from a lack of air while replenishing air tanks between the cave’s third chamber and the landmark Monk’s Junction.
Rescue divers have already fixed guide ropes along the passageways, which would be used to navigate the team out. It is unlikely the boys would carry their own 12-litre air tanks – they are more likely to receive air from a navy diver’s supply.
With further monsoon rains forecast, officials knew the window in which they could launch a rescue operation was diminishing. Another deluge risked stranding the group for months, which would mean drilling a shaft into the cave became the only prospect of rescuing the team before the end of the monsoon season. After Kunan’s death concerns also grew about the quality of air inside the cave.
The press briefing has now finished. Here’s what we learned:
• The rescue operation to extract more boys began on Monday at 11am (5am BST). The same divers who went in on Sunday have been called upon again, but there are no reports on their progress.
• Officials said that conditions were as good as they were on Sunday, when the first four boys were extracted. They said that the rain yesterday did not affect water levels inside the cave.
• Officials suggested that the stronger boys would be rescued first and that they could emerge between 7.30pm and 8.30pm local time.
• Authorities complained about some of yesterday’s media coverage, saying a drone was flown above the operation. They also claimed media outlets listened to police radio reports.
• Consideration is also being made about whether parents should be allowed to see the boys who have already been rescued, potentially through a glass door. There must be no physical contact with the boys until the results of blood tests come back. The four boys in hospital are asking to eat pad kra pao (Thai basil chicken).
Speaking at a press briefing, officials suggested that the stronger boys would be rescued first.
Asked which boys are coming out first he says, “The perfect ones, the most ready ones” #thamluangcave @sloumarsh
The first boy will emerge about four to five hours from the press conference, meaning between 7.30pm and 8.30pm local time #ThamLuangCave @sloumarsh
Divers went in to extract more boys from the cave on Monday at 11am (5am BST), official reports have confirmed.
“The factors are as good as yesterday ... The rescue team is the same team with a few replacements,” Narongsak Osatanakorn, the head of the joint command centre coordinating the operation said.
He added: “The water level is not worrisome ... Yesterday’s rain did not affect water levels inside the cave.”
Second operation commenced 11am #thamluangcave @sloumarsh