Tham Luang cave rescue: Tense wait for remaining 5

[webfact]

Tense wait for remaining 5

By THE NATION

 

A helicopter prepares to carry one of the evacuated boys at a military airport in Chiang Rai, as rescue operations continue for those still trapped inside a cave located in the Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park. // AFP PHOTO

 

Four more boys brought out of Tham Luang cave on 2nd successful day.
 

AS THE WORLD watches with awe, the dramatic rescue of the 12 boys and their football coach from Tham Luang cave, is unfolding successfully by the hour.

 

As of yesterday, at least eight of the 13 have been evacuated from the flooded Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province and they are now being observed at Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital. 

 

The decision to evacuate the stranded 13 was made on Sunday morning and by evening four of the boys had been rescued, taking advantage of a window of opportunity. The mission plunged into the task again yesterday and managed to pull another four out by evening. Rescuers are planning to save all the remaining footballers from the Chiang Rai cave before the monsoon rains unleash their full wrath.

 

Thai soldiers and police officers evacuate a boy from a helicopter to a hospital after he was rescued from the Tham Luang cave, at an air force airport in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, 09 July 2018. // EPA-EFE PHOTO

 

The drama began 17 days ago as the assistant football coach of a local football team, Mu Pa Academy Mae Sai, and 12 team members visited the mountainous region on June 23. The 13 got stranded deep in the Tham Luang cave following sudden flash floods. The children are aged between 11 and 16 years old and their coach is 25. The muddy floodwaters, the pitch darkness and thin air inside the cave hampered initial rescue efforts. The desperate rescue operation expanded rapidly as numerous rescue workers, the Royal Thai Navy’s SEALs, academics, many organisations in Thailand, and foreign experts, joined the rescue operation.

 

Since June 30, the floodwater level inside the cave has begun subsiding significantly thanks to the deployment of powerful pumps, diversion of water, and the gesture of farmers in the vicinity to let their fields be flooded in order to drain water from the cave.

 

 

On July 2, foreign divers found all 13 Mu Pa members alive at a dry spot about 5 kilometres from the cave’s entrance. 

Serious preparations for their removal began, including a crash course in diving for the stranded survivors, with evacuations finally kicking off on Sunday. 

 

Foreign diving specialists and Thai SEALs have already successfully helped at least eight footballers brave through perilous narrow passages and tunnels in the cave, with two divers escorting each of the evacuees. 

 

Some flooded passages within the cave are reportedly less than 40 centimetres wide, making it impossible to pass through with an oxygen tank on the back. Buoyed by Sunday’s success, the same diving evacuation team launched the second phase of the operations at about 11am yesterday. 

 

Former Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osottanakorn, who heads the rescue-operations command, said the divers were sufficiently rested and oxygen tanks had been replaced along their route by the support team. 

 

Narongsak Osattanakorn who heads the rescue operation at the Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province. They were seeking updates about the evacuation of the stranded footballers.

 

Narongsak said yesterday afternoon that the prospects for their mission were looking good. “The conditions [yesterday] are as great as on Sunday, with regard to the floodwater level, the amount of air, and the strength of the Mu Pa team members,” he said. 

Although it has been raining in Chiang Rai province over the past few days, the floodwater level is still manageable. 

 

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department’s deputy director-general Kobchai Boonyaorana said that the floodwater level inside the cave was even lower. 

 

“There is some rain. But water drainage at the cave has gone as well as planned,” he said. At present authorities have not revealed the identities of the evacuees out of concern for the feelings of parents whose boys are yet to come out. Narongsak only confirmed that the first four evacuees from the cave were in good physical condition. 

 

An ambulance exits from the Tham Luang cave area as rescue operations continue for those still trapped inside the cave in Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park in the Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province yesterday. 

 

While the rescue efforts have achieved incredible success, they have been beset by one fatality. Former SEAL, Petty Officer First Class Samarn Kunun, 38, died during the rescue operation last week.

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who headed to Chiang Rai last night to view the progress, said HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn had provided assistance to Samarn’s family. Prayut said the King had also emphasised that the family of the deceased should receive good care from relevant organisations. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30349698

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-07-10

 

 

 

[Samui Bodoh]

I don't know what else to say except;

 

Godspeed!

 

Good Luck!

 

Get out alive!

 

[Chris Lawrence]

Why did the Chiang Rai Governor loose his job?

 

And why has Deputy National Police Chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul interfered with those on the front line. He wanted the drone operator to show his permission slip while scouting the inside of the cave. This is the fellow that gave his boys $120,000 reward money for the shrine bombing that killed 20 people.

 

Anyway hope everyone gets out OK and the Governor finishes the job.

 

The world press is covering this and reporting on what is going on. Particularly the abnormalities that is inherent with politics. Just sad that such a incredible rescue can attract whiteants.

[webfact]

Narongsak promises last 5 survivors to be extracted faster

By Thai PBS

 

 

Rescue operations commander Narongsak Osotthanakorn announced the successful extraction of four more “Wild Boars” soccer team members out of the Tham Luang cave and expressed confidence that rescuers would be able to bring to safety the last batch of five survivors tomorrow faster than they did in the past two days.

 

Speaking at a press briefing at 9.30 pm, the former Chiang Rai governor said that the extraction mission today which began at 11 am was accomplished at 8 pm with four more teenage footballers being rescued out of the flooded cave and safely sent to Chiang Rai Prachanukroh hospital.

 

The good news today, he said, was that the rescue team spent nine hours – two hours faster than they did a day earlier – from the time they went deeper into the cave to extract the four survivors until they emerged safely from the cave.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/narongsak-promises-last-5-survivors-extracted-faster-tomorrow/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-07-10

[Jonathan Fairfield]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Vacuum]

What's up with the umbrellas?

 

[Thailand]

A big a very big day for the Tham Luang 13 and all involved in this incredible rescue which be the subject of numerous movies documentaries etc.

 

All the very best to all involved. No need for speed just safety.

[Chang_paarp]

2 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

What's up with the umbrellas?

 

 

To keep the press away. 

[Bung]

18 minutes ago, Chang_paarp said:

To keep the press away. 

Or maybe to keep them boys out of the sun after being in the dark so long? 

[BEVUP]

17 minutes ago, Chang_paarp said:

To keep the press away. 

Which would identify the kid

Also maybe sun 

Why did the Chiang Rai Governor loose his job?

A. They apparently shuffle these Gov Administrators every year

[jossthaifarang]

I can't wait to see the last man out, I really hope they have all learned a valuable lesson. Who knows some might become cave rescuers in their adulthood, they certainly would have learned a thing or two about cave diving..

[Dario]

45 minutes ago, Chang_paarp said:

To keep the press away. 

Think just a little bit before you post anything: the kids have been in absolute dark for half a month. The umbrellas are there not for the press, but for the kids to protect their eyesight.

Edited July 10, 2018 by Dario

[NCC1701A]

radar shows rain directly over the cave area now.

 

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

[Kerryd]

The umbrellas are there to HIDE the identity of the children so that the parents don't know which children have been rescued and which are still in the cave.

This has been reported already. The idea (apparently) is to avoid additional stress on the parents whose kids are still there. As some of you may be able to imagine, what a parent would be thinking if they learned that everyone else's kids had been rescued but theirs were still in the cave.

This is also why they moved the media (and others) away from the cave entrance and blocked off the area around the hospital - so that prying eyes wouldn't be able to see which kids were out and thus know which kids are still trapped.

If they were worried about their eyesight they'd just put dark sunglasses and hats on them, or even wrap their eyes with gauze bandages to shield them from the light. They wouldn't need to go to such lengths to hide the boys from sight if their only concern was exposure to bright light.

And it's not like they were down there in the pitch black long enough for any lasting changes to have occurred. ***** - they've probably been bathed in artificial light ever since they were found. 
Maybe a couple of minutes for the eyes to adjust once they were out of the cave and they'd be back to normal.

What next, someone going to suggest that they may have developed "bat like" senses while in the cave and have an unnatural affinity for sucking blood ?  

Edited July 10, 2018 by Kerryd

[greenchair]

Good luck to the last 5. 

No need to hurry. 

Slow and sure wins the race. 

[NextStationBangkok]

This is a great operation, and great effort by Thais. Well done.

[NCC1701A]

33 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

The umbrellas are there to HIDE the identity of the children so that the parents don't know which children have been rescued and which are still in the cave.

This has been reported already. The idea (apparently) is to avoid additional stress on the parents whose kids are still there. As some of you may be able to imagine, what a parent would be thinking if they learned that everyone else's kids had been rescued but theirs were still in the cave.

This is also why they moved the media (and others) away from the cave entrance and blocked off the area around the hospital - so that prying eyes wouldn't be able to see which kids were out and thus know which kids are still trapped.

If they were worried about their eyesight they'd just put dark sunglasses and hats on them, or even wrap their eyes with gauze bandages to shield them from the light. They wouldn't need to go to such lengths to hide the boys from sight if their only concern was exposure to bright light.

And it's not like they were down there in the pitch black long enough for any lasting changes to have occurred. ***** - they've probably been bathed in artificial light ever since they were found. 
Maybe a couple of minutes for the eyes to adjust once they were out of the cave and they'd be back to normal.

What next, someone going to suggest that they may have developed "bat like" senses while in the cave and have an unnatural affinity for sucking blood ?

I agree with everything you said. there may be an additional reason, the Thai government can't control all these foreign press people like they can the domestic press. so they may be minimizing video of any misstep during the transportation process. they know one day this is going to be at the very least a huge TV documentary. Also live on almost every Thai TV channel with cameras using very long lenses.

Edited July 10, 2018 by NCC1701A

[BangkokSausage]

56 minutes ago, Dario said:

Think just a little bit before you post anything: the kids have been in absolute dark for half a month. The umbrellas are there not for the press, but for the kids to protect their eyesight.

There are far easier ways to block bright light than to have people running around with massive umbrellas like a pair of sunglasses lol

 they already said they don't want identities revealed so as not to upset the parents of those still stuck inside

Edited July 10, 2018 by BangkokSausage

[Antonymous]

I don't understand all these comments about the names of the rescued boys being kept a secret. The names and ages of the four boys in the first rescue (at least) were reported in US press within hours. I could list the names for you, but won't since I do understand why that decision was made (albeit bypassed).

 

 

[Mattd]

4 minutes ago, Antonymous said:

I don't understand all these comments about the names of the rescued boys being kept a secret. The names and ages of the four boys in the first rescue (at least) were reported in US press within hours. I could list the names for you, but won't since I do understand why that decision was made (albeit bypassed).

 

 

You could, but how can you know that what was reported is actually factually correct?

[Kerryd]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

At present authorities have not revealed the identities of the evacuees out of concern for the feelings of parents whose boys are yet to come out.

 

[Dimebag]

1 hour ago, Dario said:

Think just a little bit before you post anything: the kids have been in absolute dark for half a month. The umbrellas are there not for the press, but for the kids to protect their eyesight.

Although your comment definitely has some credit, so does chang-paarp. 

At present authorities have not revealed the identities of the evacuees out of concern for the feelings of parents whose boys are yet to come out

Maybe you should read a bit before you post

[Xonax]

1 hour ago, Dario said:

Think just a little bit before you post anything: the kids have been in absolute dark for half a month. The umbrellas are there not for the press, but for the kids to protect their eyesight.

You should think at little bit more yourself, before you post anything. The only thing you would need to protect are the eyes, and sunglasses would be the only appropriate thing for that.

[Kerryd]

6 minutes ago, Antonymous said:

I don't understand all these comments about the names of the rescued boys being kept a secret. The names and ages of the four boys in the first rescue (at least) were reported in US press within hours. I could list the names for you, but won't since I do understand why that decision was made (albeit bypassed).

 

 

When they brought the first group out it was noted that the media were spying on the rescuer's radio frequencies and using drones to try and get pictures of the boys when they first came out of the cave.

Remember as well that on the day the first group (of 4) came out there were "confirmed reports" that 6, and even 7, boys had been rescued. As we know (now) those reports were BS. 
I believe one Thai TV station was showing pictures of some of the boys on what looked like some kind of ID tag/marker. I'm not sure if those were the boys who were in the first group or just random pics of some of group.

 

[chingching]

1 hour ago, Dario said:

Think just a little bit before you post anything: the kids have been in absolute dark for half a month. The umbrellas are there not for the press, but for the kids to protect their eyesight.

The umbrellas are to shield the press from the identities of the kids, so parents would not know if their kid is the last one out.  Thinking a little would do you some good too

[webfact]

Rescuers preparing to bring out the last 5

By Thai PBS

 

 

Thai and international divers are preparing to resume the rescue operation to bring out the last five members of the “Wild Boars” soccer team from Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai where they have been stranded for more than two weeks.

 

Rescue operation Narongsak Osotthanakorn described the rescue operation which saw eight of the survivors brought out of the flooded cave so far as a success.

 

Judging from what he told press briefing late last night,  some of them should start emerging from the flooded cave before nightfall.  He said the high-risk rescue operation today should be wrapped up faster than the previous two days.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/rescuers-preparing-bring-last-5/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-07-10

[ginjag]

3 minutes ago, chingching said:

The umbrellas are to shield the press from the identities of the kids, so parents would not know if their kid is the last one out.  Thinking a little would do you some good too

No press should be in a near enough place to take photo's or videos. After all all were cleared from around the cave entrance area.   Put protected glasses on the kids wrapped in dry sterile clothing.   What on earth do they need to be shuffling around the stretcher with all the umbrellas........sorry but this is farcical........should never have to do this to protect the boys from the press.  extra personnel like this are hampering the quick movement needed to transport the boys to Hospital.       Please not have the press near the helicopters or ambulances 

[webfact]

Rescuers gear up for final push to save remaining five from Thai cave

By Panu Wongcha-um

 

An exterior view shows the Chiang Rai Prachanukroh hospital, where four of 12 Thai schoolboys who were rescued from the flooded cave are being treated, in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand, July 10, 2018. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

 

CHIANG RAI, Thailand (Reuters) - Rescuers resumed preparations on Tuesday for a third rescue operation deep into a cave complex in northern Thailand to free four remaining boys and their soccer coach in a race against time and monsoon weather.

 

Four more of the boys were carried on stretchers out of the labyrinthine Tham Luang cave on the Myanmar border on Monday, bringing to eight the total number brought out so far after two rescue pushes in successive days.

 

The head of the operation, Narongsak Osottanakorn, said rescuers had learned from experience and were two hours faster in bringing the second batch of survivors out as scattered monsoon rains continued to risk flooding the tunnels with water.

 

A crack team of foreign divers and Thai Navy SEALs guided the boys during a nine-hour operation through nearly 4 km (2.5 miles) of sometimes submerged channels from where they have been trapped for more than a fortnight.

 

People across Thailand cheered the rescue operation, including at the Mae Sai Prasitsart school where six of the trapped boys are students.

 

"I am very happy about those who already made it out and I think everyone will be out today," said Waranchit Karnkaew, 14, who also said the football-mad boys had been closely following games at the World Cup in Russia before they were trapped.

 

"I want to take my friends to lunch and we will play football together," he told Reuters.

 

The president of soccer's governing body, FIFA, has invited the boys to the World Cup final in Moscow on Sunday if they make it out in time.

 

Rescue organisers say they need 20 hours to replan and replenish oxygen supplies, with the next rescue mission expected to come some time on Tuesday afternoon, weather permitting.

 

However, organisers, declined to confirm whether they would attempt to bring all five out in the third push, with the plan so far being to bring out four at a time.

 

"It is up to the environment. If the rain god helps us, then we may be able to work fast. But if the rain god doesn't help, then it could be challenging," Narongsak said.

 

The plight of the boys and their coach has drawn international attention, with divers, engineers and medics among others flying in from around the world to assist.

 

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha visited the cave to inspect the operation and was quoted by Narongsak as saying he didn't want to see this kind of incident happen again on Thai soil.

 

The "Wild Boars" team became trapped on June 23 when they set out to explore the cave after soccer practice and rains flooded the tunnels.

 

Hope for the 13: https://tmsnrt.rs/2u6GHeq

 

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um, Juarawee Kittisilpa, Patpicha Tanakasempipat, John Geddie and James Pomfret in CHIANG RAI; Writing by James Pomfret; Editing by Paul Tait)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-07-10

[Tug]

Still here following hoping for a five count soon and all personnel safely out speedy recovery to our tough little wild boars!!!

[chrisinth]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The good news today, he said, was that the rescue team spent nine hours – two hours faster than they did a day earlier – from the time they went deeper into the cave to extract the four survivors until they emerged safely from the cave.

Although I doubt that it would happen, I am hoping that nobody in the rescue teams becomes complacent about this situation. It has been an incredible operation to date, criticized by many in the earlier stages for apparently proceeding too slowly, but, IMHO, timed just right so that the kids could regain their strength, get their confidence with the task ahead and allow the rescue teams to complete the all so important rehearsals.

 

As others have said, this is all about safety first and not a competition to achieve better times. Procedures have been fine tuned, competent divers know the tricky routes intimately, please just carry on as you have been doing.

 

Best of luck for everyone today, heroes you all are today, but nothing to what you will be tomorrow, recognition wanted or not. 

Edited July 10, 2018 by chrisinth