The perilous mission to evacuate 12 boys and their 25-year-old coach trapped deep inside a flooded cave in northern Thailand is under way, Thai authorities announced Sunday (July 8).
"Our readiness is at the highest today. Today is D-day," said Chiang Rai's governor, Narongsak Osotthanakorn, adding that the families had been informed of the plan and given their support to the rescue effort.
Divers will escort the boys out one by one before handing them over to separate rescue teams in Chamber 3, according to a Thai Navy official with knowledge of the operation.
Chamber 3 is where the underground command center is located, around two kilometers (1.2 miles) inside the cave.
The divers will stay inside the cave to continue the rescue operation, while the boys will be carried away on stretchers to waiting ambulances.
The 13 international divers involved in the rescue include two British divers who found the boys last Monday, the Thai Navy official said.
At 10 am local time, an international contingent of 13 specialist divers and five Thai Navy Seals descended into the watery network of underground tunnels below the Mae Sai mountains, carrying with them the hopes of an entire nation.
The plight of the stricken boys, who have remained trapped inside the caves for 15 days, has transfixed Thailand, as rescue efforts have become ever more urgent.
Rescuers have what has been described as a dwindling window of opportunity, with forecasters predicting the return of heavy monsoon rains in the coming days, effectively sealing off the cave until October.
"We have two obstacles: water and time. This what we have been racing against since day one. we have to do all we can, even though it is hard to fight the force of nature," said Osotthanakorn, as a light rain began to fall across the site.
"All we need a suitable time window when all conditions are right to carry out the operation, we have been waiting for this right moment."
Race against time
At the entrance to the caves, volunteers assisting in the operation described the rescue attempt as a "now or never" scenario.
The boys and their coach are huddled together in a small chamber 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) inside the cave, surrounded by flood water and with a limited supply of oxygen.
To reach them, divers will need to successfully navigate a network of sprawling narrow tunnels, with officials close to the operation suggesting rescuers will use a "buddy" system, with each diver paired with a child.
Signs that a rescue operation was under way were evident in the hours leading up to the announcement, as authorities installed a large green tarp around the cave entrance and removed media from outside of the camp to a separate location.
Source: CNN
BDST: 1211 HRS, JUL 8, 2018
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