rescuers are trying to get the last young people out of the cave

This Tuesday marks the end of the ordeal for the last five boys and their coach stuck in a flooded cave in Tham Luang, northern Thailand. The last phase of evacuation began around 10:08. "We are going to extract the five at the same time," said the governor of Chiang Rai Province. We hope to be able to go faster today. " Because the heavy rains add to the difficulty of an already delicate mission. Between flooded casings and narrow passages in which one must sneak, the course is fraught with pitfalls. A doctor and three men from Thai navy commandos who have been with the group since their discovery early last week should also be released that day.

»READ ALSO – Flooded cave in Thailand: last phase of wild boar rescue

By this time, eight boys have already seen the light of day. A first group of four left Sunday, another followed Monday. "The eight are in good health, no fever," said Jesada Chokedamrongsuk, head of the Ministry of Public Health, in front of reporters at Chiang Rai Hospital. Everyone is in good mental health. "This is the clearest balance sheet delivered so far on their health status. The children underwent radiological examinations and blood tests. Two boys with signs of pneumonia received antibiotics and are in a "normal state," he added. The group will be kept under observation at the hospital for a week.

Seventeen nights underground

All Thailand is suspended from this saga that has lasted since June 23. The boys were trapped by the rising waters in this network on the border with Burma and Laos. Wild boar footballers spent nine days in the depths of the cave before two British divers managed to join them early last week. Emaciated but alive, they were perched on a promontory, more than four kilometers from the entrance to the cave. After desperately reviewing all possible solutions, the authorities decided Sunday to try everything for the threat of new rains and lower oxygen levels in the room where the group had taken refuge. The last four boys and their coach spent 17 nights underground.

"I want him to be healthy and get back to school fast."

The classmate of one of the 16-year-old footballers

The progress of the operations has in any case delighted the families and families of the children. "I want him to be healthy and get back to school fast," says Phansa Namyee, a classmate of a 16-year-old footballer nicknamed "Night." "I want to play with them, take him to the restaurant and spend time together." The children received messages of support from celebrities as diverse as US President Donald Trump, football star Lionel Messi and US tech guru Elon Musk, received Monday evening by the head of the military junta, General Prayut Chan -O-Cha. The teenagers were invited by the world governing body, FIFA, to the final of the World Cup held Sunday in Moscow, if they are up by then.

(With agencies)