The search is over, and the result is the one Thailand was praying for.
At 10:30pm, Thai Navy SEALs and divers finally made contact with the missing youth soccer team that has been trapped in Chiang Rai鈥檚 Luang Cave since June 23, after nine days of round-the-clock rescue efforts.聽All 12 boys and their coach聽are alive,聽according to Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osatanakorn.
鈥淲e鈥檝e successfully found them and now we鈥檙e going to rescue them,” Narongsak told reporters assembled outside the cave where parents, media, and the nation聽have kept vigil. “Tonight, all of us will not sleep. We鈥檙e happy that we鈥檝e found all of the children.鈥
Local news outlets have said the boys were discovered about 400 meters beyond Pattaya Beach, the name of the cave’s fourth聽major chamber.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to take 4-5 hours until we can confirm further details. We would not have accomplished this task without the support of聽you folks. Thank you,” he said as reporters burst into cheers.
The 鈥淲ild Boar鈥 soccer team and their 25-year-old coach reportedly visited the cave in the afternoon of June 23 after a practice. However, heavy trains cut them off from the entrance.
At 10 kilometers long, the Luang Cave of the Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park has long been a fairly popular tourist attraction, despite it also being one of the longest and toughest caves to navigate in the country.
This story is developing.
