Searching for Thai caves: Rescuers do not know how to free boys trapped



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The video shared by the Thai Navy Seals shows the boys, who were found alive by British divers in the early hours of Monday night, huddled together on a small patch of dry land, surrounded by water in a black room .

"It is estimated that boys are about two kilometers in the cavern and between 800 meters and one kilometer below the surface," said Bill Whitehouse, vice president of the British Cave Rescue Council, whose organization contributed to the search for the Tham Luang Nang cave system in northern Thailand.

But as the rescue operation enters the next phase, the options for rescuers seem limited. The area in which the group remains stranded is only accessible through a narrow flooded canal and attempts to pump water from the cave, or to find a natural opening in the roof of the room that s'. has so far proved unsuccessful.

Capt. Akanand Surawan, a commander of the Royal Thai Navy, said providing the group four months of food and teaching the boys to dive is the next phase of the plan to bring them home.

But with the rain continuing to fall "We think that there is only a short break in the monsoon and all possible options for the rescue of boys are being considered", said Mr. Whitehouse in a statement. .

"Although water levels have dropped, diving conditions remain difficult and any attempt to dive boys and their coach will not be taken lightly as there are significant technical challenges and risks to consider". is considered one of the least commendable escape methods, experts warning that any attempt to cross the narrow passages will be full of difficulties and potential complications, especially if the children do not know how to swim.

"The Worst Case Is" It will not be like diving that most people recognize it, says Pat Moret, a salvage consultant told CNN on Monday

"It will dive into what is actually muddy water, perhaps sinking quickly, with no sense of direction, "said Moret." You can not say what's up, down, on the side. "

Fighting The rains

The boys, aged 11 to 16 years and members of the Wild Boars football team, explored their football coach on June 23, when heavy seasonal rains flooded the entrance from the cave, forcing the group further and further into the labyrinth of tunnels in search of high ground.

Their sudden demise unleashed a desperate nine-day race against time while hundreds of Volunteers and specialized international research teams against heavy rain to find the missing group.

On Monday, Narongsak Osottanakorn, governor of the local Chiang Rai region, told reporters that the mission "is not over yet" and that medical experts must enter the cave to assess the boys before d & # 39; Other measures are taken.

"We will drain all the water from the cave, we are planning how to send a nurse and a doctor inside the cave to check their state of health and movement.We are working all night long, "he said.

  Relieved families hear the news I waited: The boys are alive.

Surawan, a commander of the Royal Thai Navy, said that additional divers accompany the doctor and the nurse.The rescuers will also pump air into the cave to improve the conditions

Rescue teams try to drain the cave for several days and, at one point, pump 1.6 million liters of water an hour out of the cave.However, continuous rains have frustrated attempts to clear passages, with the water remaining at a constant level.

  Families have been organizing vigils in front of the entrance to the cave since the disappearance of the boys.

. The boys safely crossed the roof of the cave, either through a natural opening or through a drilled entry point.

During a rescue attempt last week, hikers found a hidden opening deep in the jungle, giving them another way to enter the cave system. The natural chimney was at least 1.5 meters in diameter and at least 22 meters (72 feet) deep, north of the opening of the cave.

Although the opening is not connected to the area where the boys were discovered, now that the location of the boys is known, rescue efforts can focus on the search for "boys and girls." other potentially hidden openings.

"They are also located in a relatively small space and this would make any attempt at potential drilling as a means of rescue very difficult," said Whitehouse.

"Back in the UK, there is an evaluation of electronic equipment that might be suitable to pinpoint the underground location of boys and coach more accurately than published surveys," adds Whitehouse

"The necessary equipment will be sent to Thailand if the electronics experts agree on the feasibility"

Darran Simon of CNN contributed to this report.

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