Threat of rain puts bid to free Thai boys at risk, as rescue effort enters second day
Mae Sai — The second phase of an operation to evacuate the remaining nine members of a Thai football team trapped deep in a flooded cave is under way, the chief of the rescue bid told reporters on Monday. “At 11am sent [in] the second operation,” Narongsak Osottanakorn said, adding he hoped it would be “quicker” than Sunday’s operation, which brought out four of the team. As the treacherous rescue bid entered its second day on Monday looming rain was one of the main enemies of the operation, threatening to flood the cave complex in mountainous northern Thailand. A bewildering array of other dangers could also doom the escape plans. Thais have been fixated on the crisis, hoping desperately for the safe return of the boys and their 25-year-old coach, since they became trapped in the Tham Luang cave complex on June 23 because of rising waters. They spent nine days unaccounted for inside the cave, before British divers found the emaciated and dishevelled group huddling on a muddy bank a...
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