Heavy rains hindering rescue for children trapped in Thailand cave

Rescuers are battling heavy rains as they struggle to drain a flooded cave in Thailand where 12 children and their football coach have been trapped for days.


The young football team, whose members are aged between 11 and 16, have been stuck in the Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand since Saturday night after monsoon rains blocked the main entrance.

Hundreds of rescuers worked overnight to install high-pressure water pumps to reduce flooding in the cave, but it was a losing battle as rains continued to pound the area in the northern Chiang Rai province near the Laos and Myanmar borders.

"Rising water levels is major obstacle in the rescue operation, and it rained hard last night," the provincial secretary in charge of the rescue operation said.

He added 1,000 people had been mobilised for the search, including air and ground teams and divers.

The army also dispatched special operation troops to aid the rescue.
  (rte)
 27/6/18