Rescuers get closer to missing boys

The group has been missing for more than a week after days of bad weather that assaulted the grueling search. The children, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old assistant coach have not been heard since they've ventured into the recesses of Tham Luang Cave in northern Thailand on Saturday. and were blocked by heavy rains. Separated on Sunday and with the help of water pumps, divers were able to establish an advanced base of operations inside torsion chambers, which gives hope that "boars" like the team is known, could soon be located

The divers of the Navy Seal and the Australian Federal Police officers plunged into the darkness of a 800-meter-long chamber up to 500 meters. to a passage that could allow the missing boys to shelter, said the commander of the Seals, Rear Admiral Arpakorn Yookongkaew. 19659003] But he said that although the Seals had made some progress, they were not yet where they wanted to be.

"It's still difficult because the water flow is pretty strong," he said. "We are here to support the Thai government in its operation," said Cameron Noble of Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

"They (the police) have the experience of diving underground. "

The Australian team has joined forces with 11 Chinese rescue experts, up to 32 US forces, three British divers and a British cave expert, as well as rescue teams Myanmar and Laos already present.

"Today is a beautiful day for me and our team," said Narongsak Osottanakorne, Governor of Chiang Rai Province, Sunday afternoon

"We have sunshine today, the roads are walking easily. "

the cave had decreased and that about 60 for" today, what we have to do is rush to the children, "said the Vice Admiral Apakorn at the following address: "We will not stop until we find them."

Stakeholders place extra oxygen tanks, ropes and lights LED along the walls of the cave in the hope that they can provide a path to an airy room called Pattaya Beach where officials believe that the 13 are taking refuge. Rescuers advanced 600 m from the base to the Pattaya site, while heavy boreholes began outside the cave to try to establish communication with the boys.

The optimistic attitude comes after a week of heavy rain. Near the borders of Myanmar and Laos, it is difficult to penetrate deeper into Tham Luang

"I feel happy as I have never felt in a long time." The rain stopped and Rescue teams have found ways to reroute the stream, diverting its flow so that it no longer enters the cave.

"Families feel a lot better too."

I MISS THEM & # 39;

Dramatic waiting pierced Thailand, capturing the attention of social media users, dominating the front

Buddhist monks from all over Chiang Rai gathered in a local school to pray for the football team

The field where wild boars used to practice is now a helipad used to lift heavy loads. Jessica Tait, a spokeswoman for US troops, told AFP: "Every day conditions change." easier. "

The Tham Luang is one of Thailand's longest and most difficult caves to navigate, but drilling experts hope that its limestone formations could make a series of holes and entrances alternatives.

"We are still expecting difficulties, because we have to drill not vertically, but slanted," AFP Suthisak Soralump, a geotechnical engineer responsible for the effort, told AFP. Thailand to come, so let's try. "

Officials said that the boys knew the site well and had visited several times, so they were able to find shelter.

Rescuers discovered footprints and footprints in a room earlier in the week. from where they recovered the children 's football boots, backpacks and bicycles.

Parents and friends held vigils and prayed for their safe return

"I miss them," said 15-year-old Thananchai Saengtan. "I want them to come back so we can play football together."

– With AAP