More positive developments have been reported today in the on-going mission to rescue the 12 young footballers and their coach from the flooded Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai.
Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn confirmed that the rainwater that has been flooding the cave gradually receded today as more water pumps were brought in to drain out the water. Thai PBS news team reported that a 1,500-metre-long water chute was successfully installed this afternoon to help quicken water drainage.
In another positive development, the Navy SEAL team made it back to an area known as Chamber 3 again today, bringing it closer to the so-called Pattaya Beach where the 13 missing people are believed to be taking refuge. Another SEAL unit reached the same spot last Monday but had to withdraw because of heavy flooding.
Less rain and better weather conditions also helped rescue teams to make more progress.
The rescue mission has entered its second week with no concrete signs of locating the missing but authorities hold out hope that they are all still alive but trapped in one of the chambers inside the cave. An exercise to evacuate survivors from the cave was conducted this morning, involving ambulances carrying patients to field hospitals. Governor Narongsak expressed satisfaction with the drill but admitted there were some hitches with the traffic which hampered the evacuation process.
