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Two ambulances leave a cave in northern Thailand and pbad the media hours after the rescue mission began releasing the ambulance. Youth football team trapped.
USA TODAY & # 39; HUI

A work document photo taken recently and published by the Royal Thai Navy on Saturday shows a group of Thai Navy divers in Tham Long cave during rescue operations for the 12 boys and their children. coach of the football team trapped in the cave of Khun Nam Nang Park, in the Mae Sai District of Chiang Rai Province. (Photo: Royal Thai Navy, AFP / Getty Images)

A sigh of collective relief on Sunday after the perilous rescue of four young footballers trapped in a large, winding, partially flooded cave, an international effort that fueled a response emotional around the world.

But history – that of courage, danger and resilience – is far from over.

Eight boys aged 11 to 16 and their 25-year-old coach live in the labyrinth dragging more than two thousand miles away. Unceasing rains add to the daunting task of Thai officials since the team was trapped more than two weeks ago.

The storms were to last at least until Monday as the monsoon season gained momentum

Governor Chiang Rai, Narongsak Osottanakorn, said that other rescues would be suspended for 10 to 20 hours to allow the diving teams to rest. restore the huge complex of Tham Luang cave with oxygen and other equipment necessary for the dangerous exit. And he did not reveal the condition of the four members wild boars

Narongsak, however, was optimistic.

"After 16 days of waiting, we can see the faces of wild boars," he said. Applause on the site of Chiang Rai Province in northern Thailand: "It's more successful than expected, and everyone is happy."

To learn more: Thailand: the coach apologizes; the boys say 'do not worry' & # 39; in the letters

For more information: Rescue of the cave in Thailand: Why can not they drill from above

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SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who had proposed building a small submarine for ease of effort, tweeted: "Continue to be amazed by bravery.

Narongsak thanked the team of 90 divers, more than half of whom came from nations around the world. The boys were found Monday by a couple of British divers who, when the boys told them that they were all alive, reacted with a typically British "Brilliant".

The British media have followed events closely. It was also the most read story about The World of France and made the front of Xinhua's Chinese news site.

Nagonsak had estimated that the precarious trip could take 10-12 hours for each boy, and that extracting everyone could take days. A SEAL involved in the rescue preparations fainted and died on Friday, recalling the dangers of the mission.

Divers escorted the first boy from the cave around 5:40 pm local time on Sunday or 6:40 am ET, less than eight hours after the start of the rescue operation. The other three boys came out of the cave in the next two hours

"We were faster than expected," said the governor.

Those who were judged in the best conditions were extracted first. The children were placed in ambulances and received medical badessments before being transported, some by helicopter, to the Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital, more than 30 miles away.

"We can have sweet dreams tonight"

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