Posted on 07/09/2018 8:11:18 PM PDT by Simon Green
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 organizers 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at mobile.reuters.com ...
Bump for 0530 CST.
Thankful to God for His mercy in helping this along! Praying He grant safe passage to all remaining, including the crew!
This has been a rescue that approaches Apollo 13 in perilousness. The rescuers deserve tremendous credit for displaying ingenuity and courage in the face of near-certain disaster. They deserve at least some sort of formal civil award.
One diver has been lost. But it could have been everyone in the cave. And it isn’t over yet. Prayers that the remaining five and all the rescuers are brought out safely by this time tomorrow!
yes, its a tremendous feat....they can all be proud....
Caww, thank you for posting photographs and updates at the link above.
It’s been a pleasure to read today and saved us tons of time trying to get the news elsewhere!
Throw mercenaries and drug dealers in the mix and this was a job tailor made for Rambo. But where is he ?
BBC reporting all the boys are out.
Yes just announced p
On Fox, all out
there are still 4 SEALS inside — need to get them out
OK everybody out!!!!!
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