Searching for missing boys, Thai divers grope way through flooded cave

World Today

Thailand-accident-rescue-weather-children-caveTechnicians lift water pumps to the drilling site near Tham Luang cave, at the Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park in Chiang Rai province on July 1, 2018 as the rescue operation continues for a missing children’s football team and their coach. Twelve Thai boys and their assistant football coach spent their eighth night trapped in a flooded cave, as a round-the-clock search was aided by better weather. / AFP PHOTO / Lillian SUWANRUMPHA

Thai navy divers had still to navigate their way through three kilometers (nearly 2 miles) of dark, flooded cave passages on Sunday (July 1) to reach the spot rescuers believe would give 12 missing boys and their soccer coach a better chance of survival.

Eight days into the search, there has still been no contact with the boys, aged between 11 to 16, or their 25-year-old coach since they went off after soccer practice to explore the vast Tham Luang cave complex in Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Rai.

CGTN’s Martin Lowe reports on the search.
Follow Martin Lowe on Twitter @MartinLoweTV

With the boys’ way out blocked by flood waters from the heavy rains, rescuers are hoping that they made it through to an elevated rock mound in one of the underground chambers far under the mountain.

Cavers have nicknamed the potential safety spot “Pattaya Beach” after one of Thailand’s best known tourist destinations.

Rescue teams have also been scouring thick jungle on the mountainside for alternative routes into the cave.

Australian team of rescue experts have arrived at the cave and is helping other international teams present to help with the search.

Story by Reuters with additional information from CGTN.