Rains hit Thai cave where rescuers face 'war with water and time'

[rooster59]

Rains hit Thai cave where rescuers face 'war with water and time'

By Patpicha Tanakasempipat and James Pomfret

 

Rescue workers work near the Tham Luang cave complex in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand, July 7, 2018. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

CHIANG RAI, Thailand (Reuters) - A heavy rainshower hit northern Thailand late on Saturday, worsening conditions at the cave where rescuers were waging a "war with water and time" to save 12 trapped boys and their soccer coach, with a rescue possible within days.

 

The rain could potentially set back progress made over the last week to drain the Tham Luang cave complex in the northern province of Chiang Rai.

 

With oxygen levels dropping and rainstorms forecast, time is running out on a plan to teach the boys -- some as young as 11 and not strong swimmers -- to make a dive through narrow, waterlogged passageways that would challenge experienced cavers.

 

The best window for a rescue could come in the next three or four days, the leader of the rescue effort said on Saturday.

 

Narongsak Osottanakorn's cautious message of hope came a day after the death of a Thai rescue diver, a grim turn in what began two weeks ago as an adventure to celebrate the birthday of one of the boys.

 

Up on the hill, where rescuers are seeking alternative routes down into the cave, another accident occurred on Saturday night: a vehicle skidded off a dirt track, seriously injuring the driver and a passenger and harming four other volunteers, authorities said.

 

Earlier, at the sprawling cave mouth below, lines of frogmen and soldiers with flashlights could be seen emerging from the darkness, as generators chugged and pumped water out from blue nylon pipes.

 

Dozens of Royal Thai Army soldiers rested on rocks outside the cave, with two of them saying they had been told by superiors that the rescue operation would likely begin Sunday or the day after.

 

Authorities tightened a security cordon, draping plastic sheets around the approach to the cave, further giving the sense that a rescue might be imminent.

 

This could not be independently corroborated by Reuters, but Narongsak, a former provincial governor, told reporters earlier on Saturday that the next three to four days was "the best and most ideal time for the rescue operation."

 

"The current situation, with the air and water levels and the boys' health, is the best yet," he added. "We're still at war with water and time."

 

The discovery of the boys inside the cave by British divers on Monday "was just a small victory", he said.

 

For the first time since they were found, the boys communicated by letter with their relatives -- many camped outside the cave's entrance. The boys wrote with both homesickness and humour.

 

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk tweeted on Saturday that an escape pod and inflatable tube he was developing might be used to help the rescue. He gave no details. The Thai defence ministry said a team from a Musk firm with drilling and exploration knowhow should reach the cave on Sunday.

 

Several monks in orange robes sat at a small shrine with two golden deer statues near the cave mouth, chanting, as a middle-aged woman knelt and prayed before them.

 

An assistant told Reuters the ceremony was to "open up" the cave mouth to allow for an easy and safe return for the boys.

 

Hope for the 13 - https://tmsnrt.rs/2KR2zRj

 

"DOUBLE POSITIVE"

 

Ivan Katadzic, a Danish diving instructor who has been ferrying oxygen tanks into the cave, said after a dive on Friday he was "double positive" about the mission because the water level had dropped considerably.

 

Katadzic has not dived the final kilometre to where the boys are stranded on a muddy bank, the most dangerous part of the dive, during which rescuers have to hold their oxygen tanks in front of them to squeeze through submerged holes.

 

Alternative rescue plans include stocking the cave with supplies and an oxygen line to keep the boys alive for months until Thailand's monsoon season ends, or drilling a shaft down from the forest above.

 

Narongsak said the drills would have to pierce 600 metres (1,970 feet) of fragile limestone rock to reach the boys and rescuers were discussing drilling angles.

 

Besides looking for possible holes from above, the team on the hill above is trying to block holes and divert streams that channel water into the cave before the weather turns.

 

"Everything is a race against time," said Kamolchai Kotcha, an official of the forest park where the cave complex is located. His team would camp out on the hill to try and finish its work before the rain came, he said.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-07-08

[Fex Bluse]

I really hope they can manage through to the end without many more accidents. Near electrocutions, pumping water back into the cave, blocked roads from double parking, one drowning by an unknown or unreported mishap, and now a car gone off a cliff. 

 

Probably a bunch of other things we just don't hear about. 

 

We all know how Thais work and their tendency toward near total disorganization and lack of attention to detail. So, for the sake of these innocent children, I REALLY hope the adults can be managed better. 

[djjamie]

Now or never it seems. This drama could easily be turned into a movie.

[darksidedog]

With the front of the cave hidden by sheeting, I get the sense that today could be the day they start trying to bring the first couple out. I wish them the very best of fortune if they do try. This story needs some good news.

Edit: Lots of divers arriving and medical personnel, Press and anyone not involved being cleared out. It looks like they are going to go for a rescue this morning. Good Luck to all.

[Fish Head Soup]

I reckon they have started moving the first kid.

[Fish Head Soup]

13 minutes ago, djjamie said:

Now or never it seems. This drama could easily be turned into a movie.

If someone makes a well researched and detailed documentary it would be great.

[Fish Head Soup]

Media banned from site.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2018/jul/08/thailand-cave-rescue-operation-divers-trapped-boys-live

[NCC1701A]

Latest Chiang Rai radar:

 

http://weather.tmd.go.th/cri.php

 

 

Edited July 8, 2018 by NCC1701A

[Fish Head Soup]

Interesting graphic.

 

[canuckamuck]

27 minutes ago, djjamie said:

Now or never it seems. This drama could easily be turned into a movie.

I am just wondering who they are going to get to play me. The clever and handsome guy watching it all unfold on social media with controlled empathy.

Probably Chris Hemsworth.

[ezzra]

The bitter irony of it all to to with the excess water is that when you want water none is available due to drought and other freaks of nature, and when you absolutely hate it to be there, it's there, killing people, and you can't get rid of it.... 

[Darcula]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

a vehicle skidded off a dirt track, seriously injuring the driver and a passenger and harming four other volunteers, authorities said

 

It might be cheaper, faster and easier to teach those kids to dive.

 

[bluesofa]

2 minutes ago, Darcula said:

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

a vehicle skidded off a dirt track, seriously injuring the driver and a passenger and harming four other volunteers, authorities said

 

It might be cheaper, faster and easier to teach those kids to dive.

Teach them to drive as well. Surely they couldn't make a worse job than some of the adults.

 

 

[neeray]

1 hour ago, Fex Bluse said:

I really hope they can manage through to the end without many more accidents. Near electrocutions, pumping water back into the cave, blocked roads from double parking, one drowning by an unknown or unreported mishap, and now a car gone off a cliff. 

 

Probably a bunch of other things we just don't hear about. 

 

We all know how Thais work and their tendency toward near total disorganization and lack of attention to detail. So, for the sake of these innocent children, I REALLY hope the adults can be managed better. 

"We all know how Thais work". Re this quote, please don't speak for me (and probably many others). It really isn't fair to paint all Thais with a broad brush. I have had some very good work and experiences with Thais. I vehemently disagree with your opinion.

[tingtongtourist]

46 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

I am just wondering who they are going to get to play me. The clever and handsome guy watching it all unfold on social media with controlled empathy.

Probably Chris Hemsworth.

Is Chris Hemsworth a Brit?

if not then must give him bolar hat like your avitar!

 

and who will play the villian Thaivisa keyboard warrior,

the one who is always bashing Thais and predicting disaster ?

 

[canuckamuck]

18 minutes ago, tingtongtourist said:

Is Chris Hemsworth a Brit?

if not then must give him bolar hat like your avitar!

 

and who will play the villian Thaivisa keyboard warrior,

the one who is always bashing Thais and predicting disaster ?

 

Dany Devito!

 

And Hemsworth would look great n my little hat.

Edited July 8, 2018 by canuckamuck

[tingtongtourist]

28 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

Dany Devito!

 

And Hemsworth would look great n my little hat.

but Dany Devito is somewhat likeable!

 

i just read some silly nonsense post that say getting them out ok is like tossing a coin 13 times and get heads all 13 times

 

so maybe this actor is better..

[Fex Bluse]

1 hour ago, neeray said:

"We all know how Thais work". Re this quote, please don't speak for me (and probably many others). It really isn't fair to paint all Thais with a broad brush. I have had some very good work and experiences with Thais. I vehemently disagree with your opinion.

No worries. I have had some good ones, too. But, in the main, they tend to be disorganized. What's funny about we humans is that nobody is upset when someone generalizes a positive characteristic but get deeply emotional when the it's a negative one. Funny, right?

 

I love Thailand, and, in my work, I make a substantial impact on the country. As such, I'm not given to hiding faults behind sugary platitudes. I call things how I see them, and, to the surprise of many, Thais in positions of authority often Thank me. 

 

That said, your opinion is noted with respect. 

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, tingtongtourist said:

...

and who will play the villian Thaivisa keyboard warrior,

the one who is always bashing Thais and predicting disaster ?

 

KiwiKiwi will be played by himself... if he's still here.

[Kohsamida]

Update on Tham Luan cave rescue; Rescue operation has begun as of 10:10 am today.  18 elite divers have entered the cave.  Details on specifics is not clear, but the divers are now on their way.  Officials expect the rescue operation to go on through the day and the first kids will not emerge from the cave before 10am tomorrow, though the first of the kids should be in the "safe zone" by 9pm tonight

 

Our prayers should be with them.  This is considered one of the most dangerous cave rescue dives in history, but apparently there are now no other viable options except to swim them out even though most of the kids cannot even swim.  Thunderstorms expected to start in earnest by late afternoon to day so this is now a race against time. 

Edited July 8, 2018 by Kohsamida

[neeray]

19 minutes ago, Kohsamida said:

Update on Tham Luan cave rescue; Rescue operation has begun as of 10:10 am today.  18 elite divers have entered the cave.  Details on specifics is not clear, but the divers are now on their way.  Officials expect the rescue operation to go on through the day and the first kids will not emerge from the cave before 10am tomorrow, though the first of the kids should be in the "safe zone" by 9pm tonight

 

Our prayers should be with them.  This is considered one of the most dangerous cave rescue dives in history, but apparently there are now no other viable options except to swim them out even though most of the kids cannot even swim.  Thunderstorms expected to start in earnest by late afternoon to day so this is now a race against time. 

These kids are tough as nails, they're troopers, adventurists. They scrambled into that cave in pitch black 2 weeks ago and on several previous occasions, negotiated all the obstacles and had a blast doing it.

None were seen unhappy or tearful in the cave pictures when found, or subsequently.

Now, they'll treat their new dive experience like the brave little soldiers that they are and with the help of their rescuers, they'll all exit with a big smile. And Thailand and the world will be smiling back at them.

And the coach, like the captain of a ship will exit last.

Safe travels to all.

[Jonathan Fairfield]

BREAKING: Rescue mission to free 'Tham Luang 13' has started: 

 

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1047052-rescuers-begin-evacuation-of-tham-luang-13/