Thai Cave Rescue: Four more boys out; four still inside with coach

After four boys among 12 trapped in a flooded cave in northern Thailand were rescued on Sunday, another four have been rescued on Monday, an aide to the Thai Navy SEAL commander has said. The ongoing rescue operation is over for the day.

The aide, Sitthichai Klangpattana, didn't comment on the boys' health or say how well the operation has gone.

A total of eight of the 12 boys have now been brought out of the treacherous cave system by divers, including four who were brought out on Sunday, when the rescue operation began.

A total of four ambulances have left the area around the flooded cave in northern Thailand where members of a youth soccer team have been trapped for more than two weeks, suggesting eight of the 13 trapped people have now been extracted.

On Sunday, teams of divers brought out four of the trapped boys but waited several hours before confirming their safe rescue. As of Monday morning, eight boys and their coach were in the cave, where they have been trapped by floods since June 23.

Authorities were tight-lipped about the progress of Monday's operation. On Sunday ,too, officials waited for several hours, till the rescued boys were transported to hospitals, before announcing their rescue.

Chiang Rai, the acting Governor Narongsak Osatanakorn, who is heading the rescue, had said before the second phase began at 11 am on Monday that the authorities hoped “to hear good news in the next few hours.”

(Inputs from NH Web Desk)