Divers take part in the rescue mission (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)Bangkok (VNA) – Rescuers on July 6 have accelerated the rescueoperation for the 12 stranded young footballersand their coach as heavy downpours areexpected to hit in a matter of days, which will cause the water levels insidethe cave to rise.
Earlier, expertsfrom the Chulalongkorn University said the Tham Luang cave is a part ofa limestone mountain ecosystem and when it is raining on the mountain, thewater will be absorbed into the subterranean aquifer system throughinfiltration and later spring out as streams and rivers. The water lever ishighly likely to rise where the boys are located, as well as the path leadingto them.
Rescuers are racing against time to remove water in the third chamber ofthe cave. There is little time left as new floods could force the team to stay trappedinside the cave for months.
Two streams to the north and south of Doi Nang Non Mountain, Huai NamDan and Haui Makaeng, were successfully diverted away from the cave through thecooperation of local people and related agencies.
According to rescue operation organisers, the water in the cave has beenreduced by 40 percent since the victims were found alive on July 2.
Rescuers are trying to remove water inside the cave’s third chamber sothat the water level is only at waist-height for the boys, enabling them toexit using only life jackets and not requiring them to undergo potentiallyrisky dives to escape.
This appears to be a more viable plan than the previously laid out exitstrategy whereby the boys, with no previous experience, would be taught to divefor several hours in dangerous water currents.
Thai authorities on July 6 also announced that a former Thai navy diverdied during a mission to try free the football team trapped in Tham Luang cave.The 38-year-old man dived in the cave at 8:30pm on the evening of July 5,however lost consciousness due to lack of air. This is the first death of therescue mission that started on June 23, for the stranded football team. -VNA
VNA
