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THAM LUANG CAVE, Thailand – Researchers trying to reach a dozen boys and their trainer in a flooded underground complex have used huge pumps to reduce the water level, allowing divers to place ropes and oxygen tanks along the road.
This was the first significant progress for several days in the massive effort to reach the boys, ages 11 to 16, and their trainer, 25, who disappeared into the cave complex in the north from Thailand for more than a week. The rising floods in the cave had blocked the search and rescue operation for days.
Since the boys and their coach disappeared a long time ago, the chances of finding them alive seemed to be dwindling. But the governor of Chiang Rai Province, Narongsak Osottanakorn, who oversees the search and rescue operation, expressed hope that the divers of the Thai Navy SEAL could soon reach the cave where the group is supposed to be.
with the result, "he said Sunday." The water level is reduced, and this facilitates the SEALs. "
The Tham Luang Cave, a popular destination for cave explorers , is known for its floods during the rainy season which usually extends from July to November.The boys and their trainer entered the cave system on June 23, shortly before the start of a heavy rain The search and rescue operation that followed, involving hundreds of people from about 20 government agencies and half a dozen nations, captivated Thailand, with people across the country, including The King, following developments.
The United States sent a team of 17 Air Force Rescue Specialists based on the Japanese island of Okinawa to help with research, with additional support staff. Australia, Great Britain, China, Laos and Myanmar are also involved in the operation, as well as several Thai companies, including the largest oil and gas exploration company in the country. country
. reduce the level of water in the cave complex so that divers can sink deeper. Mr. Narongsak said that a break in the rains and an increase in pumping capacity had helped this weekend, allowing the divers to progress
"You can see that our officers are happier and smarter than previous days ". The divers were able to reach a place known as the third chamber, he said, about two hours from the entrance, where they established an advanced base with lighting, food and tanks. additional oxygen.
Still as high as the divers failed to repeat the progress they made on Tuesday, when they managed to travel further into the cave complex, he said that the vice Admiral Arpakorn Yokongkaew, commander of the Special Naval Warfare Unit, the divers installed guide ropes to facilitate the crossing of the dark cave and its occasional whirlpools.
"The most important thing at the moment is to find the boys," he said. "Sometimes, when we dive, we face obstacles and we have to withdraw.We will now go forward."
The governor told reporters that a doctor of the day army, the only doctor in Thailand who is also trained as a Navy SEAL diver, was on the scene and was ready to enter the cave to treat
Experts have prepared special foods that, according to officials, could help the boys and the coach to recover after being hungry for several days
"The food is similar to the food given to astronauts". Narongsak said. "They can eat a little – but they will have a high-protein diet."
The rescuers also worked on a plan to bring the survivors, who at best would be very weak, through the flooded cave.
"They must be in a stable state to be ready to go out," he said. "The doctor, who can dive, will do an assessment and solve the problem for us."
Rescuers did exercises during the weekend to practice the extraction operation and encountered several problems. On the one hand, there were so many vehicles on the narrow roads leading to the cave that the ambulances could not get out.
"I must say that it is the first time in Thailand that this kind of incident happened" Governor said. "So, everything is a lesson learned for us."
Ryn Jirenuwat reported from Tham Luang Cave, and Richard C. Paddock from Bangkok.
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