Operation to rescue stranded Thai football team from flooded cave begins

Rescuers in Thailand have kicked off an operation to pull 12 members of a junior football team and their coach from a flooded cave that they've been in for over two weeks, the head of the rescue mission has announced.

"Today we are at peak readiness," the lead rescuer said as he announced the start of the operation. The entire operation is expected to take three to four days, according to a military commander involved in the effort. The first group could be out of the cave by 9:00 pm local time (2:00 pm GMT) on Sunday. A total of 23 people, including Thai and foreign divers, as well as Navy SEALs, are taking part in the rescue.

Rescuers have been racing against the weather ever since they discovered the stranded football squad on Monday after they had already spent nine days underground. Monsoon storm clouds could bring rain at any moment, which would further flood the cave where the 12 boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach have been cut off by rising water.
 RT
 8/7/18
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• Rescuers race to free Thai cave boys as heavy rains forecast