Videos reveal treacherous conditions rescuers face and parents anguish as search for missing boys continues

Rescue teams are seen inside of the Tham Luang caves where 13 members of an Under 16 soccer team were trapped in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand, June 25, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer

 

A video shared to social media has revealed the treacherous conditions rescuers face as they search for 12 boys and their football coach who have been missing for three days in caves in Chiang Rai.

 

The clip, shared by rescue worker Wiangchai Berm Kunngamkwandee, shows almost zero visibility as rescuers search the Tham Luang caves in Mae Sai district.

 

 

Rising flood waters forced rescuers to suspend the search for the missing group on Monday evening before resuming at first light on Tuesday.

 

Rescuers have been searching for the boys, aged between 11 and 15, and their 25 year old football coach after the mother of one of the boys reported him missing on Saturday afternoon.

 

Rescue teams are seen outside the Tham Luang caves, where 13 members of an-under 16 soccer team are trapped, in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand, June 25, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer

 

On Monday a team of Navy SEAL divers joined the rescue operation to help search through the cave complex, which is believed to be up to 8 kilometres long and contains numerous chambers and caverns.

 

Water pumps, power lines and communication sub stations have been erected at the entrance to the cave to assist the rescue operation.

 

Officials said on Monday afternoon they believe the group are still alive and have gone further into the cave than rescuers have been able to reach so far.

 

Earlier The Nation reported that rescue workers had received information that there are two ceiling passages which would allow search teams to descend into the cave aiding rescue efforts.

 

 

On Tuesday, Channel 3 shared footage of parents and relatives of the missing boys who had gathered at the entrance of the cave, where the boys had left their bicycles, backpacks and shoes.

 

Relatives wait outside the Tham Luang caves, where 13 members of an-under 16 soccer team are trapped, in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand, June 25, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer

 

The parents and relatives had laid flowers as some prayed for the safe return of their children.

 

Others could be seen crying and shouting into the cave calling out to the missing boys.

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-06-26

Search continues for missing teenagers in flooded Chiang Rai cave

By The Nation

 

 

The desperate search continued on Tuesday for 12 children and their coach from a local football team who went missing in a Chiang Rai flooded cave on Saturday afternoon.

 

Rescue teams planned on Tuesday to search to the end of the limestone cave that is believed to be the fourth longest cave in Thailand.

 

So far, searchers have found children’s slippers, footprints and palm prints on the wall of the cave.

 

Rescue teams have pumped water out of the cave into a nearby reservoir to assist divers led by Thai Navy’s SEAL unit. For the past three days divers have searched through muddy waters as levels have risen following heavy rains.

 

They have drilled the cave’s walls into two separate halls as part of the ongoing search at Tham LuangKhunnam Nang Non National Park.

 

The missing children, aged between 13 and 16, are members of the local football team, the Mu Pa Academy Mae Sai football club.

 

The teenagers went into the cave with the team’s deputy coach Ekkapon Intawongse, 25, as part of their training. They had food, water and first aid kits.

 

The team’s head coach, Nopparat Kantawongse said on Monday that this was the third time the team had made the trip into the cave. He said he was confident that Ekkapon would take good care of the children because he is part of the medical staff for the team.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30348637

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-06-26

Mom Prays Outside Cave For Son And Friends

By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

 

Officers on Tuesday continued to search for a group of missing boys and their coach in a flooded cave in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai. Photo: Tassanee Vejpongsa / Associated Press

 

CHIANG RAI — Drones and a troop of navy divers were sent back into a flooding cave Tuesday morning to search for missing football team youths.

 

The search for 12 boys and their coach resumed this morning inside the Tham Luang Nang Non Cave in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district after they went missing three nights ago.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2018/06/26/mom-prays-outside-cave-for-son-and-friends/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-06-26

KMUT adds hi-tech gear to Chiang Rai cave search

By The Nation

 

A team from King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok on Tuesday joined efforts to find 12 children and their football coach lost in a flooded Chiang Rai cave since Saturday afternoon.

 

The 13-strong university team is adding a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) underwater robot and two heat-detecting drones to the arsenal of equipment being used in the rescue effort.

 

They flew from the military airport in Don Mueang, Bangkok, aboard an aircraft provided by the Royal Thai Air Force Disaster Mitigation Centre.

 

Sawangthit Srikijsuwan, head of the university’s Centre of Excellence for Astronautical and Marine Engineering, said the ROV’s sonar sensor would be able to assess the cave’s condition and size and an underwater camera would assure divers of better and safer movement.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30348640

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-06-26

If there was a flash flood the chances of survival are usually pretty slim on the other hand there is a chance they exited from somewhere else and are ok .

Fingers and toes crossed for these young lives. Must be heart wrenching for the families.

The problem with the Thais is that, in most cases, they refuse any outside assistance. There are highly qualified teams in Europe who have carried out many successful rescues. Situations like these occur frequently.

I hope all get out safely.

 

I just saw a video on facebook and the translation says the boys have been found safe, but they can't get them out. Then I noticed the video is from 14 hours ago.

Edited June 26, 20188 yr by kingkenny

Hard to see what is being shown in the video as the camera is focusing on the dust flying around. 

 

Hopefully they can at least make contact with the boys and bring them food. Worst case would be they tried venturing much deeper into the cave and got lost. 

2 minutes ago, Crash999 said:

Hard to see what is being shown in the video as the camera is focusing on the dust flying around. 

 

Hopefully they can at least make contact with the boys and bring them food. Worst case would be they tried venturing much deeper into the cave and got lost. 

That is not the worst case. 

Can I suggest this goes in to the main Thai News. It is a big story and many members may be unaware it is actually occurring.

Not looking good at present....lets keep hoping.

1 hour ago, KiChakayan said:

The problem with the Thais is that, in most cases, they refuse any outside assistance. There are highly qualified teams in Europe who have carried out many successful rescues. Situations like these occur frequently.

There are qualified foreign teams assisting in the search and have been since Sunday I believe.

5 minutes ago, elektrified said:

There are qualified foreign teams assisting in the search and have been since Sunday I believe.

???

I really hope these kids managed to take shelter somewhere in the cave, but it's difficult to escape the impression that when Thai authorities say "we believe they're alive", in reality they just don't know anything and are avoiding mentioning the worst outcome because they believe it might bring bad luck.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

as part of their training. 

Going into a cave as part of their training,seems strange,for

a football team, and to go into a cave in the raining season,

especially after the heavy rain we have been having is stupid,

and irresponsible by the coach.

Just hope they get found safe and well,soon.

regards worgeordie

2 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Going into a cave as part of their training,seems strange,for

a football team, and to go into a cave in the raining season,

especially after the heavy rain we have been having is stupid,

and irresponsible by the coach.

Just hope they get found safe and well,soon.

regards worgeordie

Read the sign outside the cave, then think about how wet it's been the past month.

Or not.

4 hours ago, keith101 said:

If there was a flash flood the chances of survival are usually pretty slim on the other hand there is a chance they exited from somewhere else and are ok .

Unfortunately cave experts have confirmed there is only one entrance and exit for this particular cave.

The addition of an ROV and thermal imaging equipment offers better chances but it all depends on the conditions with the additional rainstorms only making it more difficult but at least if they have air with water plentiful inside, they might have a chance of surviving until rescuers can reach them.

 

 

Edited June 26, 20188 yr by smileydude

Seriously hope they get them out alive.

..gotta wonder how this guy could not have known better...

 

..this could turn out really bad....trapped in a cave system that is known to flood...during rainy season...

 

...the last time they had done it was in a December ...seems more reasonable...

 

...a shame he did not just arrange a sleepover at the club or somewhere where they could catch a World Cup match together...in safety...

Hoping and praying for a miracle for joy in this 

7 hours ago, keith101 said:

If there was a flash flood the chances of survival are usually pretty slim on the other hand there is a chance they exited from somewhere else and are ok .

Thanks for your latest take on the situation... any more guesses?

OK, so here's a real life senario for the  tech heads out there. create a drone that can both fly, and go submersible also to look for these children

 

I pray they're all found soon, alive & well.

 

Their parents must be crazy with worry.

 

6 hours ago, KiChakayan said:

The problem with the Thais is that, in most cases, they refuse any outside assistance. There are highly qualified teams in Europe who have carried out many successful rescues. Situations like these occur frequently.

I didn’t read anything in the articles to suggest that any assistance from overseas had been offered, but don’t waste an opportunity to engage in Thai bashing !!!

Currently on Al Jazeera.

6 hours ago, Andaman Al said:

Can I suggest this goes in to the main Thai News. It is a big story and many members may be unaware it is actually occurring.

 

  Good idea. I had this recommended via my YT channel.

It's been raining for the past 12hrs.

Can't see a happy ending to this sad event.

19 hours ago, KiChakayan said:

The problem with the Thais is that, in most cases, they refuse any outside assistance. There are highly qualified teams in Europe who have carried out many successful rescues. Situations like these occur frequently.

Really?

Sorry, I missed the part where they mention that outside assistance was refused. Where did you see it?

certain countries have rescuers and equip. maybe better than thai capibilities. why are not the thais asking for help?  from most probably usa in this matter?