It took longer than the initial ten-hour estimate, but the massive operation to rescue the remaining eight boys and their soccer coach from a Thailand cave has finally restarted. After pulling four boys out from the cave system yesterday, three more boys have emerged with rescuers:
BREAKING: The sixth and seventh boys have been rescued from the Thai cave.
A total of three boys have been evacuated today. Five boys and their coach are still inside.
Follow live updates: https://t.co/WIotpm4Dgq pic.twitter.com/xpji7lu90f
— CNN (@CNN) July 9, 2018
NBC reported on the first extraction following a three-hour journey to the outside:
A fifth member of the youth soccer team trapped for more than two weeks in a flooded cave in Thailand was freed Monday.
Rescue workers carried a stretcher from the mouth of the cave to a waiting ambulance, which then sped away with flashing lights. A Thai navy official later confirmed that the boy emerged around 5 p.m. local time (6 a.m. ET). …
The same divers who took part in Sunday’s rescue in the huge and waterlogged Tham Luang complex were deployed Monday because they know the cave, authorities said.
The latest rescue came about six hours into Monday’s mission.
CBS has video of his transport to the hospital:
UPDATE: Video from the scene in Thailand appears to show the fifth boy being taken to a helicopter to be flown to the hospital. Sources tell @benstracy they hope to get several more boys out of the cave in the next few hours https://t.co/EtiCiCcDcQ pic.twitter.com/GXQ3YDNpPn
— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 9, 2018
The good news from yesterday continued for the boys who had already been rescued. They have been quarantined at a nearby hospital but are said to be in good health — and very hungry. Their families will have to wait 48 hours to see them, but the boys are expected to make a full recovery. ABC News gave viewers a look at the preparations for the boys at the local hospital:
Fifth boy rescued from Thai cave has arrived at hospital in Chiang Rai, according to hospital staff. @ABC News’ @ABonTV has more. https://t.co/mOLfvZFAn3 pic.twitter.com/fTv8Avz6nk
— ABC News (@ABC) July 9, 2018
Officials called the four boys who have already been rescued, “hungry, but happy.” Officials said the boys are already eager to eat khao pad ka pow (fried rice with basil).
While the boys have been rescued from the cave, parents haven’t actually gotten a chance to meet with them. The boys are being quarantined due to the fear of infection. Officials did say they were considering allowing the parents to meet with the boys through a glass partition in the meantime.
It’s all good news so far at the start of the operation. The weather has even cooperated after raining a little earlier in the day. The expected summer monsoons have not yet arrived, giving rescuers a little more time to stage the operation. If any more water enters the cave from oncoming storms, they may make the operation impossible and force the remaining rescuees farther up the cave system, or worse overwhelm them. Time is definitely not on their side.
We’ll update as developments warrant.
Update: We’re up to yesterday’s total of four extractions. Hopefully they’ll be able to keep going:
BREAKING: An 8th boy has been rescued from the Thai cave as operations to free the youth soccer team continues. Four boys and their coach remain inside the cave.
Live updates: https://t.co/PCOxexzI3L pic.twitter.com/em3WBS9N2x
— CNN (@CNN) July 9, 2018
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