Local and international media in Thailand are reporting two of the 12 boys trapped in the flooded Tham Luang cave have been successfully rescued after almost two weeks.
Reuters’ Matthew Tostevin reported confirmation from chief of Chiang Rai’s health department, Tossathep Boonthong:
“Two kids are out. They are currently at the field hospital near the cave,” Tossathep Boonthong, chief of Chiang Rai’s health department, told Reuters. “We are giving them a physical examination. They have not been moved to Chiang Rai hospital yet.” pic.twitter.com/XJgM6HTnBk
— Matthew Tostevin (@TostevinM) July 8, 2018
The BBC’s Helier Cheung has footage of an ambulance seen leaving the cave.
A second ambulance has just come out pic.twitter.com/RE25TVNWMs
— Helier Cheung (@HelierCheung) July 8, 2018
Local media are reporting a third boy has also been rescued:
Local media reporting 3 boys out. Reuters has confirmed 2 boys, quoting a local official. I think we can start to get excited 🙂 @abcnews #thamluangcave #Thailand https://t.co/SXSOCEi6QH
— Liam Cochrane (@Liam_Cochrane) July 8, 2018
Cheung has now tweeted footage of a fourth ambulance:
Ambulance going up. Fourth I’ve seen in this short amount of time. pic.twitter.com/ADl47EHYCg
— Helier Cheung (@HelierCheung) July 8, 2018
18 divers, 13 foreign and five from Thailand, reportedly entered the cave system at around 10am local time.
Divers are guiding the boys in darkness through tight and difficult passageways. Per the Bangkok Post, the boys have been split up into four groups. The first group will have four boys and group two, three, and four will have three. The Wild Boars’ assistant coach will be in group four.
Coach Ekkapol Chantawong (left) is among the last 3 including 2 boys to be escorted by divers out of flooded #ThamLuang cave: Rescue authorities. #D-Day
File photo @ThaiSEAL FB page pic.twitter.com/xhG3V48Hhg
— Bangkok Post (@BangkokPostNews) July 8, 2018
Eight Australian divers are a part of the rescue group. Australian doctor and experienced cave diver, Richard Harris, also joined the rescue operation. At the request of Thai authorities, Harris went into the cave yesterday to assess the boys and their coach before rescuers attempted the operation.
The football team became trapped in the cave on June 23 and were later found in a small chamber of the flooded Tham Luang cave complex.
The operation appears to be moving swiftly despite initial reports the boys could have been stuck in the cave for up to four months.
UPDATE:
The Thai Navy SEAL’s Facebook page reports the third boy was rescued from the cave at 7:35pm, local time.
The fourth Wild Boar was rescued from the cave at 7:47pm.
