Thailand - FOUND ALIVE - Officials Believe 12 Boys And Coach Trapped In Cave , 23 June 2018

[Spellbound]

I don't know whether to get my hopes up again, or if this is just wishful thinking. If they were to leave them for several months, wouldn't that in itself be risky?

Article from 2 hours ago:

Rescuers tell boys trapped in Thai cave 'to prepare for evacuation today' in race against rising water
Navy SEALs may be forced to act today to evacuate the 12 boys trapped in a cave in northern Thailand, the state's governor has said, amid a race to free the children before an impending storm hits.

Authorities fear that fresh rains, forecast for Friday or Saturday, could make the already difficult task of ferrying the boys out of the flooded cave network all but impossible.

Efforts to pump water out of the Tham Luang Nang Non caves are proving successful, with 128 million litres of water removed - the equivalent of a drop in water levels of more than 40cm (15in) since Wednesday.

Nonetheless, a firefighter who has been working on draining the water said at least part of a passage leading to the chamber where the boys and their coach were found on Monday was still flooded all the way to the ceiling, making diving the only way out.

The provincial governor of Chiang Rai, Narongsak Osatanakorn, told reporters he had asked the Thai navy SEALs in charge of the extraction operation what the risks would be if the evacuation went ahead later on Thursday, and "what kind of readiness we can have today [if we] decide we can take that chance".

"What we worry most [about] is the weather," Mr Narongsak told reporters. "We can't risk having the flood back into the cave.

"This morning, I have asked for 13 sets of (diving) equipment to be prepared and checked the equipment lists and place them inside (the cave) in case we have to bring them out in this condition with less than 100 per cent readiness," he said.



The total journey from the cave's entrance to the trapped group is currently taking trained divers a total of 11 hours - six hours in and five hours back out, according to BBC News.

 

[Tssiemer]

I can’t. I just can’t anymore. Uuuuugh.

I have a second job interview in a few hours and I need this job. I can’t be stressed about this.

 

[*Verdigris]

Much more detailed info at link, but I thought this might be indicative of the nature of people in Thailand.

Thailand Cave Rescue Updates: Good Weather, Tough Circumstances

Mae Bua Chaicheun, a rice farmer who lives near Tham Luang Cave, wanted to help in the search for the missing boys. So last week, she volunteered for five days at the rescue center, delivering drinking water to soldiers and helping clean up.

When she returned home to her village in the flatlands a few miles from the cave, she found that her fields were flooded with water that had been pumped from the caves in the effort to reach the 12 boys and their soccer coach.

She had already prepared the soil on her five acres and was about to plant rice. Now she has to start over.

But she is not concerned about that. Most importantly, the boys were found alive.

When she saw the news that the boys were found, she said she put her hands together in front of the TV and thanked Buddha.

“I had goose bumps,” she said.

She is one of dozens of farmers downstream from Tham Luang Cave whose fields have been flooded by the surplus water pumped out to reduce flood levels in the cavern.

The government is offering compensation to farmers whose land was flooded. In her case, that would have come to about $430, plus seed and fertilizer. But she said she didn’t want to add to the government’s burden in the midst of the search, and did not register.

“I am more than willing to have my rice fields flooded as long as the children are safe,” she said. “The boys are like my children.”

I had read this (following below) earlier, but didn't want to post to detract from the boys... but since there is no news at the moment:

Wednesday

, Infographic Thailand share evidence that suggests 1,600 rai of rice fields have been destroyed by flooding caused by pumping water out of the cave. There is 50 million bat already set aside for emergency flood relief and farmers expect to collect roughly 1,100 baht per rai once the operation is over.

...at least they will be compensated. Somewhat, anyway.
＿

 

[JerseyGirl]

Thai cave rescue: Boys and coach not well enough to escape - CNN

A medical assessment of the 12 boys and their football coach has concluded that it is too dangerous to try to move the group out Thursday. The Seals have also started to pump oxygen into the chamber.

Separately, a new doctor's report highlighted that two of the boys and the coach were suffering with exhaustion from malnutrition.

 

[*Verdigris]

I can’t. I just can’t anymore. Uuuuugh.

I have a second job interview in a few hours and I need this job. I can’t be stressed about this.

Good Luck!

 

[enelram]

Good Morning America has a reporter on scene and reported
that now the plan is to wait for pumping enough water out so
that boys will not have to have their heads underwater.
This tells me that their diving training has not been as effective
as they'd hoped and possibly many of the boys were reluctant
to stay calm w/ heads underwater. Understandable, considering
the ages of the boys. this is why experienced divers have not
been very optimistic about diving them out.

 

[*Verdigris]

Good Morning America has a reporter on scene and reported
that now the plan is to wait for pumping enough water out so
that boys will not have to have their heads underwater.
This tells me that their diving training has not been as effective
as they'd hoped and possibly many of the boys were reluctant
to stay calm w/ heads underwater. Understandable, considering
the ages of the boys. this is why experienced divers have not
been very optimistic about diving them out.

Frankly, even people who know how to swim, and enjoy swimming would be reluctant to put their heads under that muck... so I can only imagine the poor kids.

 

[zencompass]

Thai cave rescue: Boys and coach not well enough to escape - CNN

A medical assessment of the 12 boys and their football coach has concluded that it is too dangerous to try to move the group out Thursday. The Seals have also started to pump oxygen into the chamber.

Separately, a new doctor's report highlighted that two of the boys and the coach were suffering with exhaustion from malnutrition.

Dear JerseyGirl,

Thank you so much for this update.

I was worried that the boys and the coach had some type of bacterial infection or mold in the lungs . Not meaning to minimize effects of "exhaustion from malnutrition". Just thoughts of being in a "cave" with water dripping for a long period of time.

On the edge of my seat here, just like the rest of the world.

My hope is soaring and my faith is immovable.

 

[zencompass]

Good Morning America has a reporter on scene and reported
that now the plan is to wait for pumping enough water out so
that boys will not have to have their heads underwater.
This tells me that their diving training has not been as effective
as they'd hoped and possibly many of the boys were reluctant
to stay calm w/ heads underwater. Understandable, considering
the ages of the boys. this is why experienced divers have not
been very optimistic about diving them out.

Good morning Enelram,

This is the plan that gives me so much hope. Pump, pump, pump. Faith, hope, strength.

 

[Eevee Pie]

Mae Bua Chaicheun, a rice farmer who lives near Tham Luang Cave, wanted to help in the search for the missing boys. So last week, she volunteered for five days at the rescue center, delivering drinking water to soldiers and helping clean up.

When she returned home to her village in the flatlands a few miles from the cave, she found that her fields were flooded with water that had been pumped from the caves in the effort to reach the 12 boys and their soccer coach.

She had already prepared the soil on her five acres and was about to plant rice. Now she has to start over.

But she is not concerned about that. Most importantly, the boys were found alive.

When she saw the news that the boys were found, she said she put her hands together in front of the TV and thanked Buddha.

“I had goose bumps,” she said.

It is really heartwarming how much goodwill is being shown to these boys and to everyone involved in the rescue. I have goose bumps too.

 

[Spellbound]

Latest as Thai cave rescuers face 'race against time' to free boys

-- Mr Osatanakorn asked Thai navy SEALs in charge of extraction plans to estimate what sort of a risk would be involved to take them out and "what kind of readiness we can have today and decide if we can take that chance".

He said earlier that not all 13 may be extracted at the same time depending on their condition, adding the boys have been practising wearing diving masks and breathing, but he does not believe they have attempted any practice dives.

"This morning, I have asked for 13 sets of (diving) equipment to be prepared and checked the equipment lists and place them inside (the cave) in case we have to bring them out in this condition with less than 100 percent readiness," he said.

-- It is hoped that the latest draining efforts can lower the water level in an area where it is still at the level of the top of the passageway.

The idea is to get some headroom so the boys would not be reliant on scuba apparatus for a long stretch and could keep their heads above water.

-- Experienced divers are wary of taking out the boys through the dark and dangerous waters still in the cave, especially since they are untrained.

"We are talking kilometers of transport under the water with zero visibility," said Claus Rasmusen, a certified cave diving instructor based in Thailand who has been helping the Thai Seal team with logistics. "It's difficult."

He said it was awkward, but possible, to teach them minimal skills.

"Nobody will teach anyone a full cave course, but trying to get them comfortable with masks, with the breathing, (is) completely different," he said. "Creating an environment that can make them safely get away, that's feasible."

 

[zencompass]

I can’t. I just can’t anymore. Uuuuugh.

I have a second job interview in a few hours and I need this job. I can’t be stressed about this.

Dear Tssiemer,

You've got this! Just remember you're wonderful and perfect for the job.

 

[Elainera]

I am so afraid that if they stay they will die as the monsoon rains totally flood the area. In the pics when they were first found the water level was close to that shelf they were on. What will it be like when monsoon season is in full swing!!!!

They were just talking about that on BBC news (TV), saying the most intense monsoon months are still to come.

Dear JerseyGirl,

Thank you so much for this update.

I was worried that the boys and the coach had some type of bacterial infection or mold in the lungs . Not meaning to minimize effects of "exhaustion from malnutrition". Just thoughts of being in a "cave" with water dripping for a long period of time.

On the edge of my seat here, just like the rest of the world.

My hope is soaring and my faith is immovable.

I was fearing the same thing, some infection that is now slowly showing itself. That could be fatal to some if not all if it goes round. Relieved to hear it's "only" exhaustion, hopefully they will become strong enough soon.

They should take the stronger ones out now imo. I'm so worried about the rain. Monsoon is really unpredictable. We just had almost a week with no or only some very light rain but since yesterday it has been raining non stop (I'm in India, different monsoon but similar experience).

 

[Elainera]

Any reports on still widening that narrow passage? They were working on that before they found the boys, I wonder whether they continued with that.

 

[zencompass]

Dear Elainera,

Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge of monsoons. I have no experience nor knowledge with them.

I have a good feeling about this today. I am hoping and praying along with the rest of the world.

The fact that they are pumping so that the boys don't have to put their heads under water brings me great hope.

 

[Amonet]

Awww... thank you! The funny thing is, I am really kind of a negative nellie -- and usually zero in on all the realistic, negative aspects, since that's usually how things play out. (In my own life as well. )
But this one's different.
It's Apollo 13 all over again.

FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.

I love Gene. (Kranz)

Hey -- Rather than Apollo 13, it's MaeSai 13.

#MaeSai13 !!!

(sorry, y'all - I don't "do" twitter, so you're stuck with me here.)

I love this post!!!!

 

[Elainera]

"Poonsak Woongsatngiem, a rescue official with Thailand’s interior ministry, told the Guardian the water had been reduced by 40% in the past few days, clearing a 1.5km stretch of dark, jagged and muddy cave channels that the boys would need to traverse."

"The focus of Thursday’s operations is a third major basin along the route where water still reaches to the ceiling."

"Clearing the third basin would leave another 2.5km of path to the boys, whose ages range from 11 to 16. A Chinese diver at the site, Wang Ying Jie, said about half that remaining path would be walkable in the right conditions; the maximum water depth they would need to cross is about six metres."

"Wang said most of the boys remained in good health but three had intestinal issues and were in some pain."

"Officials were also scouring the jungle above the complex to find new openings that could be drilled to extract the boys more easily. The children were breathing, he said, so there was very likely a shaft somewhere to the top.“We have around 20 to 30 teams surveying on top to find the closest and most precise spot,” he said."

Thai cave rescue: army drains site in bid to free boys before monsoon

 

[*Verdigris]

King Rama X has ordered that cave search-and-recuse training is introduced to the curriculum of all branches of the armed forces. King Vajiralongkorn decreed that the skills used by foreign teams should be taught to the military to ensure they are better equipped for any other incidents like this happening in the future. The training will include cave diving and cave navigation.

Good to know they'll train in the future, but would also hope they won't ever have this particular crisis again.

(from same link I posted earlier)
Chiang Mai CityNews - Rescue Updates: Teenager Football Team Found Alive in Cave

 

[Eevee Pie]

I really, really hope they can walk/crawl out. Go, pumps, go!!!!

Trying to dive them out through narrow water-filled passages seems like a recipe for disaster - if the boy did go into distress there would be no way for the accompanying divers to see what is going on (through opaque muddy water) or be able to render assistance (due to extremely tight passages that only one person can fit through at a time).

 

[zencompass]

I never dreamt I'd be praying for pumps. But there you have it!

I hope they've solved the issue of getting more power/electricity for more pumps. Maybe they have.