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Operation to evacuate kids from Khao Luang cave resumes in Thailand

More people are expected to be evacuated from the cave today compared to Sunday

© Chiang Rai Public Relations Office via AP

BANGKOK, July 9. /TASS/. Divers have entered the flooded Khao Luang cave in Thailand to evacuate nine people still trapped inside. Former Governor of the Chiang Rai province Narongsak Osottanakorn, who heads the rescue mission, said that divers had entered the cave at 11:00 local time (04:00 GMT).

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Thai King calls for speedy evacuation of children trapped in cave

"We are 100% ready and think that things will go faster than expected," he said at a press conference. "Conditions are as good as they were yesterday, the rescue team is the same, only a few team members have been replaced," he added. More people are expected to be evacuated from the cave today compared to Sunday. However, according to some reports, the remaining kids will be divided into groups of four and five, so the rescue operation will take two days.

The Tiger media outlet says that authorities have tightened control over local media after some reporters had tried to follow ambulances and track helicopters carrying the rescued kids to hospitals. Rescue teams and police have been ordered not to communicate with journalists more than necessary so that the media cite only data presented during official briefings. Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha is expected to visit the area at around 17:00 local time (09:00 GMT).

The ongoing light rain has not been hampering the rescue operation but showers are expected in the region on Wednesday and Thursday.

On Sunday, 90 divers rescued four kids, who were taken to the hospital. One of the children’s condition caused concern but it has stabilized by now.

On June 23, national park staff found a motorbike, bicycles and sports equipment near a cave entrance and contacted a local football club, which confirmed that those things belonged to 12 kids aged from 11 to 16 years and their 25-year-old coach. The cave where the group went missing stretches almost ten kilometers, it has several entrances and exits, as well as large halls, where the group members found shelter from the rising waters.

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