World celebrates as all 12 kids and their coach rescued from the Thai cave

All 12 schoolboys along with their soccer coach have been successfully rescued from the Thai cave, where they have been trapped since June 23. The Thai Navy SEAL confirmed the news in a Facebook post.

After rescuing four boys each on Sunday and Monday, Divers and rescue workers in Thailand resumed the “impossible”operation on Tuesday to free the four remaining boys and their coach still trapped in a cave in the country's remote north.

Eight of the boys were taken out of the Tham Luang cave complex system in Chiang Rai region in the last two days of rescue operations, but the five others remained trapped on a ledge 4 km deep inside. On Tuesday, all 13 trapped have been rescued successfully.

Social media hailed the miraculous rescue operation:

Rescuers had moved relatively quickly in order to take advantage of good weather and even heavy downpours early Tuesday did not affect their operation.

Earlier, Former Chiang Rai governor and rescue mission commander Narongsak Osotthanakorn had said on Monday night that it would take 20 hours to prepare for the third operation, but he cautioned timings could change depending on weather and water levels.

The eight boys rescued till Monday were being treated in an isolation ward in Chiang Rai hospital and the remaining four boys and the coach is reportedly being taken to the same hospital.

To help the rescue team comprising of professional divers from the UK and the Thai Navy SEAL, American space entrepreneur Elon Musk had also reached Thailand on Tuesday with a prototype mini-sub, at the flooded cave where five members of a youth football team remained trapped.

Doctors are monitoring them for illnesses they may have picked up in the cave.

The boys were exploring the caves on June 23 with their coach when they were trapped inside by heavy seasonal rains, CNN reported.

After they were found on July 2, officials cautioned it could take some time to get them out, but authorities decided to act with heavy rains forecast to hit the region.

The cave complex is regularly flooded during the monsoon season which lasts until September or October.

With IANS inputs