Thailand’s Tham Luang cave, site of daring rescue, to become museum
MAESAI: Rescuers who pulled a young Thai football team from deep inside a flooded cave were dismantling their worksite Thursday, as plans emerged to turn the spot into a museum in tribute to the daring operation.
At least one film production house was already working on a scheme to make a Hollywood treatment out of the heroics of divers, cavers and medics who risked their lives to free the “Wild Boars”. Stunning footage of that rescue was released on Wednesday, showing the youngsters - aged 11 to 16 - being stretchered to safety.
Workers were packing up the industrial water pumps, heavy-grade machinery and construction equipment at the mouth of the Tham Luang cave, which had been a high- tech command centre during the 18-day ordeal. Rescue hief Narongsak Osottanakorn told reporters the site would ultimately be converted into a museum showcasing the clothes and equipment used during the dramatic rescue.
“I believe it will become another highlight in Thailand,” he said. “Tourists will come visit.” About 50 people were working at the site, National Park ranger Pinitpong Wongma told AFP, adding that he expected work would continue until at least Sunday. “Nobody is allowed to go inside the cave at all even though there is still a lot of equipment there because water levels have been rising since the rescue mission,” he said.