The first members of the Thai football team released from the flooded cave

The first members of a men's football team were released Sunday from a flooded cave in northern Thailand where they were trapped for more than two weeks, according to numerous reports.

Reuters reports that a member of the medical rescue team announced Sunday the release of six boys, while the Associated Press quoted the Thai Navy SEALS claiming that rescuers had kidnapped four team members at Tham Luang Cave

not been able to independently confirm the reports. The authorities of northern Chiang Rai Province started the dangerous mission to get the 12 boys and their football coach out Sunday

Military helicopters are waiting to transport those recovered to a hospital about 60 kilometers away. AP reports that two ambulances left the cave to join a nearby helipad and that a helicopter was seen taking off.

Narangsak Osatanakorn, acting governor of Chiang Rai, said that 13 foreign and five Thai divers were participating in the rescue. accompany each boy as they are extracted. The operation began at 10 am local time

The full operation to get the 13 out of the cave could last from two to four days, depending on weather and hydrological conditions, said Major-General Chalongchai Chaiyakam

. The boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach were stuck when they explored the cave after a training match on June 23. Monsoon floods prevented rescuers from finding them for nearly 10 days. The only way to get them out of the cave is to navigate through dark, narrow pbadages filled with muddy water and strong currents, as well as oxygen depleted air. Former Thai navy SEAL died on a four-kilometer journey Friday

Experienced experts in underground rescue consider that an underwater escape is risky, especially with people not trained in diving, as are boys. The path is considered particularly complicated because of turns and turns in the narrow flooded pbadages.

But the governor overseeing the mission said earlier that mild weather and waterfalls over the past few days had created optimal conditions for underwater evacuation. It's not the last if it's still raining.

Before announcing that the rescue was underway, the authorities ordered the media crowd that gathered at the cave around the world to leave.

"We are at war with water

Authorities had declared that incoming monsoon rains likely to cause a rise in the water level in the cave, badociated with the Decreased levels of oxygen in the confined space, added urgency to evacuate those who were there. Previous efforts to pump water from the cave have been delayed whenever there has been a heavy downpour.

"It's raining more and more every day," freelance journalist Stephen Boitano told CBC News. He said Saturday that a torrential rain of half an hour had hit the rescue operation.

Narongsak said Saturday that experts had told him that rainwater could reduce the non-flooded space where boys take refuge at only 10 square meters. "I confirm that we are at war with water and the weather from the first day to today," he said Saturday. "Finding the boys does not mean that we have completed our mission, but only a small battle we won, but the war is not over, the war ends when we win the three battles – the battles to search , save and

The boys seemed calm and rebaduring in notes handwritten to their families made public on Saturday .. The notes were sent with divers who made an 11-hour round trip to serve as a mailman.

One of the boys, identified as Tun, wrote: "Mom and dad, please do not worry, I'm fine, I told Yod to prepare myself for the fried chicken with love. "

" Do not worry, I miss everyone Papy, uncle, mom, dad and siblings, I love it I'm happy to be here in the interior , the SEALS sailors took care of you all, "Mick wrote.

"The night loves dad and mom and brother, do not worry about me.", Writes Night, in the Thai way of referring to oneself in the third person

The most touching note comes from A person whose name was not clear: "I'm fine, but the air is a bit cold, but do not worry .. forget to organize my party." Anniversary. "

Ano Their father, of indistinct origin, asked their teacher not to give them a lot of homework.

In a letter to him, the coach, Ekapol Chanthawong, apologized to the parents of the boys for the test.

"For the parents of all children, at this moment the children are well, the crew takes good care.I promise to take care of the children as best as possible.I would like to say thank you for all the support and I want to apologize to the parents, "he writes.

On Saturday, the Thai Navy reported that three SEALs were with the boys and their coach, the 13 had health and rehabilitation badessments, and were taught diving techniques, food, electrolyte drinks, drinking water, medicines and oxygen bottles were delivered to them.

The rescuers were unable to extend a pipe that pumped oxygen up to the location where the boys were, but they brought them tanks. compressed air

"Very Dangerous Company"

Doug Munroe, an experienced spelunking lifeguard in the cave rescue service of Alberta and British Columbia, said rescuers will need to protect themselves from fatigue focusing on the task at hand. big, maybe less. "

" When you are in a rescue situation, you often tend to forget yourself. In my experience, you become very focused on the task at hand, and that's one of the things that can create risk for rescuers. Munroe told CBC News Channel

: "This is certainly a very dangerous undertaking," said Christian Chenier, who teaches cave rescue in Quebec