New Developments to rescue trapped team members – Thailand Cave Tragedy
American space entrepreneur Elon Musk tweeted that he was in Thailand on Tuesday with a prototype mini-sub, this was in response to the Thailand cave tragedy, where five members of a youth football team remained trapped.
The mini-sub stands ready whenever needed. It is made of rocked parts and in named ‘Wild Boar’ in honour of the kids’ soccer team. Cave Three is about two kilometres (1.2 miles) from the entrance of the cave network and is the base for Thai rescuers. The footballers still awaiting rescue are about two kilometres further in, at a point very difficult to access.
The Thai soccer team ventured into the Tham Luang cave complex after practice and became trapped rising waters more than a fortnight ago. By Monday night, elite divers had managed to bring out eight members of the football team which included 12 boys and their 25-year-old coach. The Thai rescue effort has been assisted experts from around the world, and the death of a former Thai Navy SEAL diver who ran out of oxygen in the cave on Friday underscored the dangers of the mission.
The rescue chief has politely dismissed the much-publicised attempts the tech entrepreneur, Elon Musk, to help the mission, deeming the mini-sub to not be practical enough to rescue the remaining survivors who are currently trapped inside.
If everything goes to plan, end of the day, no Wild Boars will be left inside the cave.
“You have seen the rain so you might be wondering – preparation for the third operation has been underway since early morning,” said Narongsak Osatanakorn, the head of the joint command centre coordinating the operation. He said the first 19 divers involved in today’s operation were sent in around 10.08am, with more to enter gradually throughout the day. Torrential rain overnight had not affected conditions for the rescue, he said, it was hoped the rescue could proceed even faster than yesterday. “The first day we spent 11 hours, yesterday we spent nine hours, we hope we can do it faster or the same as yesterday.” “If everything goes right, we will see four kids and a doctor and Seals that have stayed with the kids will all come out,” he said. “Four plus one coaches, so it’s five.”
Such efforts show hope of a successful rescue with minimal casualties and the efforts of the renowned entrepreneur is proof of the fact that the issue is not only being tackled the Thailand authorities but is also receiving assistance from all over the world.
These developments have finally broken the deadlock and the light at the end of the tunnel is finally visible for the trapped team members. Let’s hope to see further positive developments in the Thailand Cave tragedy.
