Operation To Rescue Boys From Thailand Cave Under Way

Members of the Royal Thai Navy along with international volunteers as they prepare to rescue 12 schoolboys and their coach (Picture: PA).

The operation has begun to rescue 12 boys and their football coach who will need to dive out of the flooded Thai cave where they have been trapped for more than two weeks.

The acting Chiang Rai governor told reporters "today is D-Day" with 13 foreigner and five Thai divers taking part in the rescue.

The operation began at 10am local time (4am BST) and he said it would take at least 11 hours for the first person to be rescued.

Thai army commander Major General Chalongchai Chaiyakam said the 13 "will continuously come out in approximately 2-4 days, which all may change depending on weather and water conditions."

The only way to bring them out of Tham Luang Nang Non in Chiang Rai province is by navigating dark and tight passageways filled with muddy water and strong currents, as well as oxygen-depleted air.

Experienced cave rescue experts consider an underwater escape a last resort, especially with people untrained in diving, as the boys are.

The path out is considered especially complicated because of twists and turns in narrow flooded passages.

But the governor supervising the mission said earlier that mild weather and falling water levels over the last few days had created optimal conditions for an underwater evacuation that will not last if it rains again.

Before announcing that the rescue was under way, authorities ordered the throngs of media that have gathered at the cave from around the world to leave.

The boys, ages 11-16, and their 25-year-old coach became stranded when they went exploring in the cave after a practice game 23 June.

Monsoon flooding cut off their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for almost 10 days.

Authorities had said that incoming monsoon rains that could send water levels in the cave rising, coupled with falling oxygen levels in the enclosed space, added to the urgency of getting those trapped out.

Mr Narongsak said on Saturday that experts told him water from new rain could shrink the unflooded space where the boys are sheltering to just 10 sq m (108 sq ft): "I confirm that we are at war with water and time from the first day up to today.

"Finding the boys doesn't mean we've finished our mission. It is only a small battle we've won, but the war has not ended.

"The war ends when we win all three battles - the battles to search, rescue and send them home."

The boys sounded calm and reassuring in handwritten notes to their families that were made public on Saturday.

The notes were sent out with divers who made an 11-hour, back-and-forth journey to act as postmen.

A photo published on the Thailand Navy SEAL Facebook page shows rescuers hands locked with a caption reading "We Thai and the international teams join forces to bring the young Wild Boars home".

An update on Saturday from the Thai navy said three navy SEALs were with the boys and their coach, one a doctor.

The 13 were having health evaluations and rehabilitation, and were being taught diving skills. Food, electrolyte drinks, drinking water, medicine and oxygen canisters have been delivered to them.

Rescuers have been unable to extend a hose pumping oxygen all the way to where the boys are, but have brought them some oxygen tanks.