Thailand cave rescue: Mission to save boys under way

[applegrove]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/world-asia-44755452?__twitter_impression=true

"SNIP.......

Rescue teams entered the cave at 10:00 local time (03:00 GMT), an official said at a news conference.

Earlier in the day, all non-essential staff were evacuated from the site, leaving only diving teams, medics and security forces at the site.

The boys were exploring the cave on 23 June when they were cut off by water.

Thirteen foreign divers and five from the Thai Navy are involved in the rescue mission.

The earliest the first boys could emerge is 21:00 local time (16:00 GMT) on Sunday, according to the officials, who added that both the trapped group and their families had been informed of the plan.

It is unclear exactly how the boys will be moved.


........SNIP

[applegrove]

1. Sending hope that it goes well. Vibes to victims and rescue divers alike.

[Girard442]

2. Godspeed, people.

[question everything]

3. Hoping for a happy outcome. Were I a religious person, I would pray

[spanone]

4. K&R...

[Gothmog]

5. I hope that this attempt is successful

Link to tweet

[RandySF]

6. ugh I have a bad feeling

I heard that it took experienced divers six hours to get through those flooded paths.

[applegrove]

8. I think the water has gone down a bit. They have it all mapped out by now

and will likely explain to the kids what comes next as the dives continue. I used to love being underwater with a mask as a kid. I hope these kids are not too scared. Vibes.

[Lefta Dissenter]

7. I'm petrified for them all

I can’t imagine what their families are going through right now.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. More, with some videos:

Thai cave rescue operation begins as rescue divers enter treacherous cave complex

A Thai governor says the operation to bring out 12 schoolboys and their soccer coach from deep inside a cave where they have been trapped for two weeks has begun.

The acting Chiang Rai governor has told reporters “today is D-Day” with 13 foreigner and five Thai divers taking part in the rescue.

He says the divers went in at 10 a.m. and the boys will gradually come out accompanied by two divers each. He says the earliest they will come out is 9 p.m. Saturday (10 a.m. ET).

The only way to bring them out is by navigating dark and tight passageways filled with muddy water and strong currents, as well as oxygen-depleted air.

Experienced cave rescue experts consider an underwater escape a last resort, especially with people untrained in diving, as the boys are. The path out is considered especially complicated because of twists and turns in narrow flooded passages.

https://globalnews.ca/news/4319134/thailand-cave-rescue-operation/?utm_source=notification/

[applegrove]

10. Fortunately they don't have to worry about depth and the bends at all.

There is that.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. That's a good point, though the other dangers seem as difficult

Since one experienced diver already didn't make it. But it seems like the optimum time to move on this.

[applegrove]

15. Yes. But the kids are probably being told what each dive would involve

every time they come to more water.

[Rhiannon12866]

17. I just hope that they're strong enough to do it

They've been in there for awhile - and they're kids.

[Tipperary]

29. The "bends" are completely avoidable in regular open water diving.

The difficulties they are facing are much more worrisome. Cave diving is a completely different animal.

[JI7]

11. i saw a video of some narrow passageway . i don't think it was from this specific thai cave

but it was something that would be similar to what they would deal with in that thailand cave and it freaked me out.

[Adsos Letter]

12. Possibility they won't have to dive EDITED.

EDITED FOR CLARIFICATION:

Officials have not confirmed whether the boys would need to dive during the mission, but have suggested that much of the route can be walked.

“Although there are some slightly difficult parts that we have to bend or crawl [in] we can say that we can just walk through,” Narongsak Osatanakorn, former governor of Chiang Rai province, who is heading up the rescue operation said of conditions in the cave.

“We have done extremely well as yesterday we were able to reduce the water level by 30cm, the record of what we’ve achieved.”

However, the governor was asked directly if the boys would need to dive and declined to answer, saying only that most of the path would be walkable.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2018/jul/08/thailand-cave-rescue-operation-divers-trapped-boys-live


30cm = 11.8 inches

[grantcart]

19. The problem is that the situation can change by the hour but the current break in the rain

is giving them a block of time.

Thai media is reporting that they have to move quickly because the amount of CO2 that is accruing in the cave is spiking because of all the rescue activity and the amount of Oxygen at Pattaya Beach is dropping fast.

They have moved all of the press away and put up curtains around the front and allowed only family members to wait at the front.

The Governor of Chiang Rai who was recently moved (it is thought he refused to cooperate with drug smugglers) came back and will emerge as the national hero from it. He has a very calming voice and is very clear in his explanation and explaining in detail why people should be calm.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1499806/rescue-of-trapped-children-set-to-begin

[Garrett78]

22. And because more rain is on the way. A lot more. It seems to be now or never.

I can only hope I wake up to good news. As others have said, I can't imagine what their loved ones are going through.

[grantcart]

23. they just announced they will begin in 8 hours

The Thais are the world masters at draining water quickly. They use jet engines to drain Bangkok when it floods.

It is estimated that they are pumping out 1 million litters an hour which will significantly reduce the water level if it isn't raining

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210841985

[Leghorn21]

14. please please please. Easy does it, no panic, smooth extractions

[backtoblue]

18. Yes, please please let them come out alright.

[Takket]

16. best of luck to them all, kids and rescuers alike. bring them all home

[Leghorn21]

20. In remembrance of Saman Kunan:

Volunteer ex-Thai Navy Seal Saman Kunan, 38, died last Thursday while placing oxygen tanks around the cave.



——————-May your good spirit guide the children and their coach home safely————-


THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE, SIR

[applegrove]

21. +1000

[Boomerproud]

24. Prayers for all.

[Leghorn21]

25. This fellow is reporting from the rescue site:

https://mobile.twitter.com/yayqe

He has left the immediate rescue staging area along with the rest of non-emergency crew, but is still nevertheless “on the scene”

best good wishes to all

[frogmarch]

26. Rescue mission could take two days

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/08/rescue-thailand-cave-operation-boys-begins-divers

Snip:

The governor said the mission could take two days. “There’s no time limit for the operation,” he said.

“It depends on the weather. It depends on the water levels. If something changes we’ll stop. But I expect the operation to finish in the next couple of days.”

Click red Thailand cave rescue: officials announce mission has begun - live for live updates.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

27. As a mother, I can hardly begin to imagine what

the parents are going through.

When I first heard the story of the lost kids, my first thought was, "They're dead." I know that it's normal to hold out hope even long after the possibility of survival still exists. And then, the kids were found. I can almost imagine my joy, if my son were there. And then the continued uncertainty.

I am just hoping that science (not magic, not god, not prayers) rescue them.

[Raine]

28. Keeping them in my thoughts

and prayers ...