As rescuers drained cave where Thai boys trapped, others pumped water in
Official operation has been obstructed by volunteers who have sent water back into the tunnel network
UNTRAINED volunteers may have set back frantic efforts to pump out water from the Tham Luang cave in Thailand’s Chiang Mai province, as experts race to free 12 boys and their football coach from a two-week ordeal underground.
An army of volunteers descended on the site after the plight of the boys, aged 11 to 16, gripped the nation. But authorities revealed that unauthorised actions had obstructed the official operation.
Some unregistered volunteers had started pumping water back into the ground and it had returned to the cave, Chiang Mai’s governor said. “They [believe] their technique is effective, but anything not in the plan must be discussed with us first,” he added. The rapid draining of the cave complex is the crux of the rescue plan.
Navy Seals spent yesterday training the boys to use scuba gear in the event that they may be forced into an emergency dive through submerged tunnels if approaching monsoon rains cause floodwaters to rise to dangerous levels.
The boys are being fed with high-protein drinks to regain their strength after being deprived of food for nine days.
However, a medical assessment yesterday concluded that it was still too dangerous to move the weakened group. It said that two boys and Ekkapol Chantawong, 25, their coach, were suffering from malnutrition and exhaustion, reported CNN. Mr Chantawong is said to be in the worst condition after giving the boys all of the water and snacks, without nourishing himself.
Rescuers hope to be able to drain enough water to enable the boys to walk, swim or be floated out. High pressure pumps have been installed and holes are being drilled in the walls to make way for hoses that will help to drain the chambers. Irrigation channels and reservoirs have been created outside to divert rainwater.
The authorities reported some success, with a 40 per cent fall in water levels, and a continuing drop of about 1.5cm an hour. Roughly one mile of the cave network is now walkable, leaving a further 1.5 miles to be cleared.
However, one firefighter said key parts of a passage out were still totally under water. It currently takes experienced divers six hours to reach the boys.
Fears are growing that gains could be reversed by heavy downpours forecast for the weekend. A rise in waters could leave the boys stranded for weeks or even months.
A 1,000-strong team is working around the clock on different solutions and 20 to 30 teams are scouring dense jungle above to find possible shafts. Hopes of undiscovered entrances were raised after reports that the boys had heard a rooster. But officials are aware that time is running out before conditions worsen.