Missing Boys in Caves.

[Brian Davis]

Frightening, isn't it? This is the Deputy Head of the Thai police. One really wonders if he possesses a brain.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/srivar ... uang-cave/

My wife showed me some of the social media streams on this guy, the citizenry are really mad at him.

Pol Gen Srivara Rangsibrahmanagul, the national deputy chief, has come under attacks in the social media for what is seen as an act of intimidation toward officials working to save the lives of the 12 young footballers and their coach trapped in Tham Luang Cave.

A video clip showing Pol Gen Srivara questioning two officials whether they had a permission to fly a drone and drill a hole in the cave went viral on the last few days. It was his use of language and stern manner that irked social media users who expressed sympathy with the officials on the rescue mission.

An official was trying to use a drone to survey the mountain to look for shafts through which search and rescue officials could get down into the cave when Pol Gen Srivara intervened to question whether he had received proper permission to do so.

And with an official of the Mineral Resources Department who was involved in drilling a hole through cave wall to help drain more water out of the cave, the deputy police chief questioned whether he had the permission to do the job or not, pointing out that the cave was under the jurisdiction of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

The manner with which Pol Gen Srivara’s confronted the two officials have provoked an uproar in the social media by netizens who said the questions were asked at the wrong place and at the wrong time and demoralizing as the priority concern should be on the safe return of the missing 13 with whatever necessary means and not ridiculous issue as legality of the means employed.

The deputy police chief yesterday clarified that he merely wanted everything to be done legally, claiming that there was issue about budgetary disbursement and any rescue or support activity which was not legal could not claim a refund.

Pol Gen Srivara, who is known for his brusque style of talking, also maintained that he did not intimidate any of them but merely talked with them as if they were his subordinates.

He also offered an apology to the public if they were not happy with his act.

"Act" is right. What's he hiding by way of intimidation?

[mak]

Looks like the RTN is looking for some SCUBA sherpas. Where are all the navies of the world.

from Thai Navy seals last night at midnight:
RTN S.E.A.L. #Thamluang urgently needs STRONG diving volunteers!!!!! Must be instructor levels or above
Before volunteering, carefully read the requirements and job descriptions detailed below. Competency is compulsory in this operation.

What you need to do: transport supplies of scuba tanks, food, drinking water, first aid kit, etc. from the cave entrance to help set up the new S.E.AL. Rescue Base in Chamber No. 3, approximately 3km from the entrance.

You must be able to: know how to breathe through a regulator and pull yourself using the guide rope against cold (~ 20C) and strong current, in low visibility without panicking. You don't need to be a certified cave diver, but you must be able to hike the steep slope with full gear and the said supplies (20-30 kg) for a few hundred meters.

You must bring your own diving equipment (fins not necessary) including an underwater torch with a burn time of at least 5 hours, and you should also bring your own helmet.

The passage is approximately 2-3 km long and you will be submerged for a distance of 10-15m at each flooded point. In addition, there is one very narrow channel where you will have to dismount your gear to continue. The last hike is up a 45 degrees slope that is slippery and muddy (see diagram).

If you think you are qualified, and will be not be a burden to the rescue operation, kindly contact K.Top 0875027414

The dive team at Tham Luang reserve the rights to choose applicants. You must be ready to mobilise ASAP and there is no travel and accommodation budget, but the locals are very kind and may provide free food and beverages!

[mak]

SEAL map.

[mak]

Lots of people.

[mak]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y4OxNxJI4M

[mak]

Good ol' Vern.

[Giggle]

How many reporters? Great backdrop. Creepy mood lighting. Plenty of Phuu yais getting their beloved face-time. Never let a crisis go to waste.

[mak]

I think they're getting serious.

[mak]

A good read:
http://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/news/l ... thai-cave/

[mak]

• Prov gov wants everyone to see the same pic of the situation. he thanks the team who helps close the waterway at Doi Pha Mhee so no more water leading into the cave
• SEALs are still at around the same spot. the placement process of oxygen tanks and rod line is going well. we place them for around 800m between the 3rd chamber and the junction so they’ll be enough for everyone
• the diving team has been working for a very long time. water draining progress at the entrance of Sai Thong cave will be reported later
• the overall water level is decreasing at the rate of 1 cm/hr. using 9 water pumps at the entrance, 6 pumps at the 300m spot, and 9 pumps at the 1500 spot
• will bring more pumps inside. the large water pumps really help us a lot
• the director of DNP reported that we have to install a weir and tubes at the spot at Dung creek which has water from Doi Pha Mhee leading into the cave in order to diverge the waterway away from the tunnel
• 2 weirs were made because there are two waterways. the first team connected 2 tubes, 300m long, and 100m more will be added
• the villagers confirmed that Dung creek affects the water level so we’ll see the video and let the second director of DNP explain
• another waterway will be diverged as well. we think there might be one more waterway at Dung creek as well. the villagers made 2 weirs last night and now they’re connecting tubes
• if the tubes are all connected today, they will help diverge water a lot. we’ll explore more as well to see if there are more waterways
• another drilling spot is already explored. we will place more machines which have been done 4 times already, 1 more left. if it can get on tonight, we can assemble and start working on the machine
• water draining: outside and inside the cave inside: draining from the entrance, 2nd and 3rd chamber which use 25 water pump
• this doesnt mean that the water level will always decrease since there’s always new water coming in
• water draining at the nearest point of the cave drains out around 5000 litre. the spot at Sai Thong has a cave at the middle. the water it up to the head so we use backhoe to open the waterway and drill into the cave which really help draining water out
• the spot where there’s a spring, we dig in which helps draining out water even more. thanks to the teams that come to help and the large water lumps, we are now draining water out at around 60k litre/hr
• the water level, at first was at the head level, has now decreased to the knee length
• ppl who arent involved will be kept out because the machines are heavy. we’ll break open the right wing of the cave tonight
• about the question whether we can transport the children: after 10 days, the body wont release gastric juice anymore and uses fat instead. ppl normally can live up to 30 days. if children dont move much, their muscles might have a problem
• so the doctor will dive in first to see if they can be moved. if not, they’ll be taken care of inside the cave first instead of immediately taken out
• we havent found any signs yet. we’re still working
• SEALs havent reached Pattaya Beach yet
• The drilling spot isnt confirmed if it will help find the children because there’s a lot of distance inside the cave we wont confirm what we have to guess
• SUMMARY OF THE PC 1 all 13 ppl have yet to be found 2 we havent reached Pattaya beach yet 3 we havent seen any signs like the rumors said 4 we plan to drill the cave from above but no confirmation if we’ll find them immediately

[arjay]

They have found them, all alive:

All 12 boys and their football coach have been found alive after nine days missing in caves in Thailand, the regional governor says.

All 13 are safe, the governor confirmed, speaking after a mammoth search operation in the Tham Luang caves in Chiang Rai.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-44688909

[tamada]

Just on the news, rescue workers have confirmed the kids and the coach are alive on 'Pattaya Beach'. The next step will be getting a doctor in there to assess their condition before extraction.

[Faraday]

Brilliant news!
So happy for the families.

[Brian Davis]

Fantastic news. I feared the worse with the time factor, continuing heavy rain, the access difficulties, the accusations of apparent lack of organisation and leadership - BUT they got there. Delight for all concerned.

[mak]

Great news. Congrats to the Navy divers.

[Galee]

As someone who is claustrophobic I dred to think what those young lads have been through. Hats off to all of them. Personally, I would have lost it being stuck in a pitch black environment for all that time.
Hoping for a quick extraction.

[Marcosteffano]

Very good news,for once the Brits here are in the news for doing good.i was a bit concerned that drilling into a cave with a pocket of air would release the pressure and flood the cave even higher.anyway I'm sure the experts and engineers knew what they were doing.3 cheers for all the rescue teams involved.very very bravery people.

[AlexO]

Great news. Congrats to the Navy divers.

I am delighted that the joint effort from many nations has resulted in finding these youngsters alive. Nice to hear English voices from the team to have found them. Now comes the hard part, keeping them alive and then getting them out. Pray to the rain gods that they want to sleep for a couple of weeks.

[vincemunday]

Wonderful news and I know many, many countries participated in the rescue but i have to admit i felt just a little proud when it was English divers that found them, let's pray they bring them out safely.

[Galee]

Wonderful news and I know many, many countries participated in the rescue but i have to admit i felt just a little proud when it was English divers that found them, let's pray they bring them out safely.

I bet that made Giggles day when he read they were English.