The final operation to extract the remaining five survivors out of the flooded Tham Luang cave began at 10.48 am this morning.
Rescue operations commander Mr Narongsak Osotthanakorn said at a press briefing before noon that 19 international and Navy SEAL divers were sent into the cave to extract the four Wild Boars (Moo Pa) footballers and their coach.
He expected the five survivors as well as a doctor and three SEAL members who have been staying with them to emerge from the cave this evening – faster than the two previous extraction operations.
Meanwhile, Mr Mongkolchai Khonchom, deputy director of Mae Sai Prasitthisart school in Mae Sai district offered his thanks to all the officials, volunteers and foreign rescuers taking part in the search and rescue operations from the very beginning.
He disclosed that there are six students from his school among the 13 survivors, adding that their classmates have been anxiously waiting for their return and plan to take them out for their favourite food, Moo Katha.
“We will hold a ceremony to welcome them and to arrange a crash course for them so that they can catch up with their classmates. Even if there are tests, we will postpone the tests for them. The school will take special care of them,” said Mr Mongkolchai.
