Second rescue mission begins for children trapped in a cave in Thailand

Mae Sai .- Rescuers resumed their second mission Monday to save eight children and one adult trapped in a cave in northern Thailand since June 23, after rescuing four schoolchildren A group of divers entered the cavity at 11:00 am local time, with the aim of returning with one of nine people, said Narongsak Ossottanakorn, spokesman for the operators, at a press conference.

The victims are trapped in a cave four kilometers from the entrance to the cave.

The work was interrupted for about 14 hours for rescuers to replace the used compressed air bottles on Sunday and to re-evaluate the conditions of partial flooding of the cavity, located in the northern province of Chiang Rai, reported Efe.

Narongsak warned that this second attempt could be "faster than expected" thanks to the good conditions the experts found yesterday in the underground tunnels.

The spokesman, however, avoided going out for some time to see the next exit saved by the entrance to the cave.

Sunday's operation lasted several hours: the team departed at 10:00 local time and returned with the first rescue at 17:40 local time, and the second ten minutes later, while the other two were delayed more than two hours.

The four survivors were transferred to Chiang Rai Provincial Hospital.

Parents have not yet been able to touch the children of the health center to protect them from diseases due to the weak immune system that they present, although they may have been able to to see through a glass.

Thai Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda assured local media that all are safe and sound.

The remaining nine traps remain in the cavity about four kilometers deep where they were found on July 2, after a search and rescue mission that began 16 days ago.

The arrival Saturday of a rainy season in the region and that will remain for much of the week decided officials to launch this rescue operation.

The rain is one of the major concerns of the authorities, because the water filtered by the mountain can once again flood the galleries and cancel the drainage carried out since they were found alive 12 schoolchildren , between 11 and 16 years old, and his guardian, 26.

Narongsak insisted on warning about the rain problem, but said that a military team is in the bush with the task of block the entry of water into underground tunnels.

The group of students and their guardian entered the galleries on Saturday, June 23 after a football training when a sudden storm began to flood the cavity and cut off the exit.