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Thai cave rescue: What next for the trapped boys? Thai cave rescue: What next for the trapped boys?
(2 days later)
The Thai cave complex where 12 boys and their football coach are trapped is a snaking system of caverns and crevices which pose a range of problems for rescuers.The Thai cave complex where 12 boys and their football coach are trapped is a snaking system of caverns and crevices which pose a range of problems for rescuers.
Some stretches of the Tham Luang cave are more than 10 metres high, while others are a tight squeeze through water-filled passages. Some stretches of the Tham Luang cave are more than 10m (33ft) high, while others are a tight squeeze through water-filled passages.
The death of an experienced former Thai Navy diver who was part of a team trying to supply the boys' cave with oxygen tanks re-emphasised the dangers of the mission. The death of an experienced former Thai navy diver, who was part of a team trying to supply the boys' cave with oxygen tanks, emphasised the dangers of the mission.
The group of boys and their coach were exploring the caves when a sudden storm caused the passageways to flood, trapping them inside. They had spent nine days in the cave with little food or light when they were discovered on Monday.The group of boys and their coach were exploring the caves when a sudden storm caused the passageways to flood, trapping them inside. They had spent nine days in the cave with little food or light when they were discovered on Monday.
Their rescue could take months as the group must either be taught to dive or wait for the water to recede or be pumped out. Rescuers initially wanted to keep the group supplied underground until the end of the rainy season - which would have taken months.
Could the boys escape by diving? But with heavy rains expected in the days and weeks to come, and water levels expected to rise, an operation is now under way to bring them out.
Rescue divers with specialist breathing equipment reached the group through a series of water-filled passages. The boys may have to be taken out the same way. How will the boys escape?
The Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said rescuers were now teaching the boys how to swim and dive. Rescue divers with specialist breathing equipment reached the group through a series of water-filled passages.
Rescuers are hoping to give the boys full-face masks and install dive lines and dive bottles of compressed air along the tunnels, possibly with glow sticks to light the path. The boys will have to be taken out the same way.
The diving option is considered extremely dangerous by some, but British dive experts say the priority is to get the boys out before the rains bring more flooding and debris into the system. The Thai government has released a graphic showing how they plan to rescue the boys.
Martin Grass, Chairman of the Cave Diving Group, says he expects the boys will be given full-face masks, light wetsuits and be shown how to use diving flippers, known as fins. Two divers will accompany each boy, and will guide them through the dark using ropes.
He said the rescuers instructing them would probably tell them not to hold their breath, to use their fins slowly and breathe gently. In narrow sections, rescuers will have to take off their air tanks and squeeze the boys and the tanks through.
How Thai Navy Seal divers might guide boys to safety Each boy will be given a full face mask - thought to be easier to use for novice divers.
Mr Grass says depending on the size of the boys, they may carry their own air bottle or a rescue diver may carry it for them. The diving option is considered extremely dangerous by some, but British dive experts say the priority is to get the boys out before the rains bring more flooding and debris into the cave system.
"Each boy would have at least one or two rescue divers who would look after them to make sure they don't panic," he said. Martin Grass, Chairman of the Cave Diving Group, says the rescuers will probably instruct the boys not to hold their breath, to use their fins slowly and breathe gently.
The boys could also be tethered to a diver so there was no risk of them getting lost in the fast flowing, murky water. Mr Grass notes that the boys will have two divers each chaperoning them, "to make sure they don't panic".
The boys will also be tethered to a diver so there is no risk of them getting lost in the fast-flowing, murky water.
"It could be a bonus that the boys are young. When you're young, you feel invincible and they'd see it as a bit of an adventure," he said."It could be a bonus that the boys are young. When you're young, you feel invincible and they'd see it as a bit of an adventure," he said.
The boys could spend 10 to 15 minutes under water at a time, depending how much of the passageways are flooded. But the journey back to the entrance, which also involved walking and scrambling through narrow spaces, could take a while.The boys could spend 10 to 15 minutes under water at a time, depending how much of the passageways are flooded. But the journey back to the entrance, which also involved walking and scrambling through narrow spaces, could take a while.
It has taken rescuers 11 hours to complete a round trip of to the group and back - six hours there and five back.It has taken rescuers 11 hours to complete a round trip of to the group and back - six hours there and five back.
While the pumping continues to try to reduce the flooding, Mr Grass said he expected the advice from the British divers at the scene would be to get them out as soon as possible. The pumping continues to try to reduce the flooding, and Chiang Rai provincial governor Narongsak Osottanakorn, who has been leading the operation, said that water levels inside were now at their lowest levels so far.
"With the monsoon coming, you don't know how high that water will rise." Divers have been taking hundreds of compressed air tanks into the cave, and have established a base camp inside a chamber.
Waiting and pumpingWaiting and pumping
The group could wait until the water levels drop - with food and other essentials delivered by regular diving supply trips. There has been a round-the-clock pumping operation to try to clear the caves.
Then, they could safely leave on foot. But however much is pumped out, the water is being fed by sinkholes and streams in the hills above, and the risks from the imminent monsoon rains are high.
A round-the-clock pumping operation is in place, taking millions of litres of water out of the caves so far and reducing the flooding by one centimetre an hour, reports say. Mr Narongsak said the mission was "a race against the water".
But however much they pump out, the water is being fed by sinkholes and streams in the hills above and when monsoon rains arrive, there is the chance the space they are living in could flood completely.
Chiang Rai provincial governor Narongsak Osottanakorn said the mission was "a race against the water".
"Our biggest concern is the weather. We are calculating how much time we have if it rains, how many hours and days," he told reporters."Our biggest concern is the weather. We are calculating how much time we have if it rains, how many hours and days," he told reporters.
Drilling down - less feasible Drilling down
Authorities have tried to drill holes in the cave walls to help drain some of the flood water - although the thick rock has hampered efforts. The authorities have tried to drill holes in the cave walls to help drain some of the flood water - although the thick rock hampered efforts.
There have also been suggestions that drilling could be another way to get to the boys and airlift them out. There were also suggestions that drilling could be another way to get to the boys and lift them out.
But to even begin the process, new roads would need to be built up above the caves to accommodate the heavy drilling equipment needed to break through the rock.But to even begin the process, new roads would need to be built up above the caves to accommodate the heavy drilling equipment needed to break through the rock.
A detailed survey of the area would also be needed - otherwise there would be little chance of digging a hole in the right place to reach the boys and their coach.A detailed survey of the area would also be needed - otherwise there would be little chance of digging a hole in the right place to reach the boys and their coach.
What are the dangers down there?What are the dangers down there?
The boys, aged between 11 and 16, and their 25-year-old coach, are huddled on a small rock ledge. The environment is wet, so they must keep warm and dry or risk hypothermia. The boys, aged between 11 and 17, and their 25-year-old coach have been huddled on a small rock ledge. The environment is wet, so they must keep warm and dry or risk hypothermia.
Rock falls are a threat, but the main concern for rescue teams is rising flood levels. Storm waters could complicate access routes, threaten the supply of air into the chamber and hamper evacuation attempts. There are concerns about the level of oxygen in the air in the space where the boys are trapped. Officials said at one point that the level of oxygen in the air had fallen to 15%. The usual level is 21%.
There are concerns about the level of oxygen in the air in the space where the boys are trapped. Officials said the level of oxygen in the air had fallen to 15%. The usual level is 21%. Rescuers have transferred about 100 oxygen tanks to the cave to help improve the air supply.
Rescuers have been transferred about 100 oxygen tanks to the cave to help improve the air supply. Thai diver PO Saman had been helping transfer the tanks when he got into difficulties on the way back and did not have enough air himself. He died after losing consciousness in one of the passageways and his colleagues could not revive him.
Thai diver PO Saman had been helping transfer the tanks when he got into difficulties on the way back and did not have enough air himself. He died after losing consciousness in one of the passageways and his colleagues could not revive him. Read more:
Read more: What to do to survive underground What help have they received?
How life in darkness affects humans Much-needed food and medical supplies, including fresh water and paracetamol, reached the boys and their coach on Tuesday. Rescuers transferred supplies to the boys to build up their nutrient levels.
How will the Thai cave boys cope underground? Rear Admiral Apagorn Youkonggaew, head of the Thai navy's special forces, told reporters they were given "easy-to-digest, high-energy food with vitamins and minerals, under the supervision of a doctor".
What help are they being given? Officials said most of the group were unhurt, although some were weak or had minor injuries.
Much-needed food and medical supplies, including fresh water and paracetamol - reached the boys and their coach on Tuesday. Rescuers are now transferring supplies to the boys to build up their nutrient levels, so their daily intake over the next seven days will be: How have they dealt with mental strain?
Officials say most of the group are unhurt, although some are weak or have minor injuries. A doctor and nurse are with them, and will decide whether they are strong enough to be moved. The boys may have had torches or lights on mobile phones, but they had potentially been sitting in the dark for hours.
In the meantime, divers have been taking hundreds of compressed air tanks into the cave, and are preparing to establish a base camp inside the chamber.
How will they deal with mental strain?
The boys may have had torches or lights on mobile phones, but they have potentially been sitting in the dark for hours.
So rescue teams have been taking lighting into the chamber, and keeping the group company.So rescue teams have been taking lighting into the chamber, and keeping the group company.
Divers have also been preparing power and telephone lines to enable the boys to speak with their parents. Divers have also brought letters from the boy's parents to help them handle the strain.
"They're mentally stable which is actually pretty good," Ben Reymenants, a Belgian diver helping with the rescue operation, told AFP news agency."They're mentally stable which is actually pretty good," Ben Reymenants, a Belgian diver helping with the rescue operation, told AFP news agency.
"Luckily the coach had the sanity of mind to keep them all together, huddled together to conserve their energy, that basically saved them.""Luckily the coach had the sanity of mind to keep them all together, huddled together to conserve their energy, that basically saved them."