Thailand Cave Rescue: Operation Suspended, 4 More Boys Freed

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The Rescue team in Thailand freed four more members of the boys soccer team stranded in a flooded cave complex today, as part of the second phase of a desperate operation which aims to save 4 more children and their coach before heavy rains harm the effort.

Ambulances with flashing lights were sean leaving the area as Thai navy SEALs said on Facebook that 4 boys were brought out of the cave, bringing the total to eight rescued so far before rescue operations were suspended for the day.

Chiang Rai who’s the acting Gov. Narongsak Osatanakorn said at a news conference, that the rescue mission on Monday took only 9 hours compared to the 11 hours the previous day.

He added that rescue crews are more familiar with the mission and additional help was at hand.

A Thai army deputy commander says that the operation went “smoothly” but warned the next phase “will depend on all conditions,” according to Sky News.

According to that report, the rescue which included 18 divers and 100 personnel, may need to adjust their operation if they choose to bring out the remaining 5 people on Tuesday, and that it may take multiple steps.

Officials say they are hoping the rescue operation will be wrapped up by Tuesday, and that the 4 who were first pulled out of the cave on Sunday are eating solid food now and in “good condition.”

On Sunday, Thai navy SEALs successfully safely took the first four members of the youth soccer team from the cave where they had been trapped for more than two weeks in the first rescue operation.

Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said that the same group of expert divers who took part in Sunday’s rescue returned to extricate the others because they know the cave conditions and what to do. 

An international team of expert divers—90 in total, 40 from Thailand and 50 from other countries—have been working in the area.

About 40 U.S. Air Force special operations personnel — including an 18-person personnel recovery team — were on the ground in Thailand at two locations, a U.S. defense official told reporters.

The boys,  who are members of the Wild Boars soccer team, have been invited to the World Cup Final in Moscow if they make it out in time and can physically handle the trip!