Missing Boys in Caves.

[vlad]

You may have been watching the news about 12 kids in a School missing in the cave system in Chang Rai up until today the search teams including thai navy seals have failed to locate them, its been now 5 days since they went into the system and i fear they have all perished as the water levels have been rising in the caves. Three specialized cave rescuers from the UK have flown into Thailand to locate them unfortunately so far they have not found them.

[choi choi]

Yes looking serious situation now. I would imagine as the water rises, they forced move further in.
So frightening for them.They could last a month maybe with no food.Water is there.
The passages are so small they would have to ease their body around to navigate through.
In darkness! OMG Terrible. Only hope is they found higher ground.Finding them would be a success.
At least theycould be supplied with food and clean water. God forbid, but yes, think too late now
What amazes me is it's hardly reached world headlines!

[Zidane]

Jonathan Head from the BBC has been there reporting since Monday.
This is his latest report.
The boys should have water and the temperature shouldn't be too cool.The main problems could be lack of oxygen and trying to find where exactly they are located.

Strained faces and limited progress
By Jonathan Head, South East Asia correspondent, BBC News 28 June
The mud-caked car park which serves as a base for the search operation is more orderly now; vehicles are restricted, journalists must register for passes, and infrastructure is constantly being improved - new phone lines, power lines, and new pipes for pumping water out of the cave.
But this only highlights how long this search is taking, and how limited the progress has been, with strain showing in the hitherto stoical faces of the families who have kept up their vigil for the 12 boys and their coach.
We saw the first US military personnel bustled in and then out of the headquarters today - they are saying little about their role or capabilities.
Two top British cave divers went into the main entrance to see if they could get further than the Thai navy divers, who have made little headway so far.
Two other British cavers climbed the steep forested slopes on the other side of the mountain, and found a promising hole above a point they have explored inside the caves in the past; but it must still be probed by climbers with ropes. And even if they do find a way in, no-one knows if the trapped boys are in that part of the cave complex.

[dunroaming]

Thailand news reporting one of the rescue teams have been electrocuted, I hope team found safe and well buy coach should be held to answer IMHO. In UK would also be facing the teams rescue bill!

[LU]

Choi Choi wrote:

What amazes me is it's hardly reached world headlines!

This seems to be changing. I saw a report about this desperate situation on the NBC Nightly news last night. NHK news reported on it this morning as well. Glad to see a growing number of rescuers from around the world trying to help out. We are all praying for a positive outcome.

[tamada]

Thailand news reporting one of the rescue teams have been electrocuted, I hope team found safe and well buy coach should be held to answer IMHO. In UK would also be facing the teams rescue bill!

I read that someone fainted near a power cable and power was shut off on the assumption that there had been 'leakage' but AFAIK, nobody's been electrocuted.

[dunroaming]

Tamara seems your right what was first reported on That news as an electrocution was in fact just a volunteer fainting

[bumper]

My last take on it is they didn't have enough oxygen to reach them. If that is the case would seem to be pretty easy to pre position tanks and then continue on. But, I'm not a diver.

[tamada]

Latest I read is a SEAL team has reached a third gallery, just ahead of the last water-filled cave before the 'Pattaya Beach' area where the lads are thought to be taking refuge. Good graphic appended.

Plan of flooded cave and chambers

[tamada]

My last take on it is they didn't have enough oxygen to reach them. If that is the case would seem to be pretty easy to pre position tanks and then continue on. But, I'm not a diver.

According to an interview with a Belgian rescue diver working on this mission, apart from the murky water, the currents are so strong they can rip their masks off so it is very dangerous and exhausting. It took him 5-hours for a 5000 m round-trip underground with bits underwater.

[AlexO]

My last take on it is they didn't have enough oxygen to reach them. If that is the case would seem to be pretty easy to pre position tanks and then continue on. But, I'm not a diver.

Bumper, cave diving is extremely difficult and dangerous. These divers are having to carry so much equipment and back up gear (first rule in an emergency, Dont become another casualty needing rescued) plus basic kit for the kids if they find them then it would be almost impossible to carry more air tanks to pre-position. It would need relay teams of skilled cave divers to do this and sadly there does not seem to be enough sufficiently skilled divers to carry this out. Pray the rain stops long enough for the pumps to have an affect.

[jai yen yen]

Very sad, I hope the boys are alright but I have my doubts. Why go in a cave that is known to flood in rainy season?

[mak]

On the way.

[choi choi]

The entrance should have been blocked.For the rainy season!
Heavy machinery bought in? Too late I fear.
If I was in that situation,God forbid! In Darkness. little air, confined space, .So claustropobic!
I would die of a heart attack! Awful place to be.

[Bandung_Dero]

Very sad, I hope the boys are alright but I have my doubts. Why go in a cave that is known to flood in rainy season?

Unfortunately Thai's and water is an "Oxymoron"!

For what ever reason basic water education is not in their mind set???? They have NO idea of the dangers let alone the best way of escape/survival - whether it be sea, river or land.

Can blame no one other than their education system, corrupt governments, and dare I say it - the good general up there trying to collect "Browney" points for the Feb 2019 (if it ever happens) election"

[parrot]

I saw a post on another site.......a sign at the entrance warns of flooding......from July - ?Nov?

[Hoopoe]

I saw a post on another site.......a sign at the entrance warns of flooding......from July - ?Nov?

Correct Parrot ,i saw the same sign , as you stated July --Nov , BUT they went into it in June , possibly believing the sign is good ,

[bumper]

I sure wasn't thinking about currents

[mak]

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

[mak]

The beast has arrived.