Twelve boys ages 11-16 and their soccer coach went exploring an immense, six-mile long cave complex near Mae Sai, Chiang Rai, Thailand. Monsoon rains hit soon after, quickly flooding the cave system and trapping the boys and their coach inside. For the last few days, rescue personnel have been working tirelessly to locate the soccer players, but to no avail. They have not made contact with any of them, and their status is unknown.
The Underwater Demolition Assault Unit (UDAU), colloquially known as the Thai Navy SEALs, has been assisting in the rescue operations. They have been diving through various access points to the cave, some of which have been reportedly filled up to the ceiling. There have been reports of the Royal Thai SEALs having to squeeze through narrow passageways and wriggle around difficult corners in some of the narrow passageways.
The United States military has joined the search, providing approximately 30 personnel from USINDOPACOM to supplement in whatever way necessary.
A U.S. military rescue team is briefed by the Thai Navy SEALs at the staging area outside the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand Thursday, June 28, 2018. A U.S. military team and British cave experts have joined the rescue effort in northern Thailand for 12 boys and their soccer coach stranded since Saturday inside a cave being flooded by near-constant rains. | AP Photo/Tassanee Vejpongsa
The rescuers have been using any available and useful technology at their disposal — drones, thermal imaging, and other tools they can use to explore the caves which have not all been properly mapped. Experts are attempting to study the topography of the area, and determine whether or not nearby cave systems may provide access to this cave. Old surveys and maps have not all proven to be 100% accurate, which further complicates matters. Many experts believe that finding alternate access points is key to rescuing the players and their coach if they are still alive.
Some teams have been drilling (under careful instruction by engineers and caving experts) to create alternate access points as well.
Unfortunately, the monsoon rains have not let up. And the continuous downpour has greatly hindered and at times suspended the rescue operations, as exploring the caves during times of flooding is extremely dangerous. This has also made pumping out water from the caves somewhat ineffective when they just begin to flood again (not to mention the electrical hazards), but when the rain lets up they have continued to try to empty the system of caves as much as possible.
Featured image: Thai soldiers searching for the missing children and their coach march out of the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, in northern Thailand on Friday, June 29, 2018. | AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit
Twelve boys ages 11-16 and their soccer coach went exploring an immense, six-mile long cave complex near Mae Sai, Chiang Rai, Thailand. Monsoon rains hit soon after, quickly flooding the cave system and trapping the boys and their coach inside. For the last few days, rescue personnel have been working tirelessly to locate the soccer players, but to no avail. They have not made contact with any of them, and their status is unknown.
The Underwater Demolition Assault Unit (UDAU), colloquially known as the Thai Navy SEALs, has been assisting in the rescue operations. They have been diving through various access points to the cave, some of which have been reportedly filled up to the ceiling. There have been reports of the Royal Thai SEALs having to squeeze through narrow passageways and wriggle around difficult corners in some of the narrow passageways.
The United States military has joined the search, providing approximately 30 personnel from USINDOPACOM to supplement in whatever way necessary.
A U.S. military rescue team is briefed by the Thai Navy SEALs at the staging area outside the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand Thursday, June 28, 2018. A U.S. military team and British cave experts have joined the rescue effort in northern Thailand for 12 boys and their soccer coach stranded since Saturday inside a cave being flooded by near-constant rains. | AP Photo/Tassanee Vejpongsa
The rescuers have been using any available and useful technology at their disposal — drones, thermal imaging, and other tools they can use to explore the caves which have not all been properly mapped. Experts are attempting to study the topography of the area, and determine whether or not nearby cave systems may provide access to this cave. Old surveys and maps have not all proven to be 100% accurate, which further complicates matters. Many experts believe that finding alternate access points is key to rescuing the players and their coach if they are still alive.
Some teams have been drilling (under careful instruction by engineers and caving experts) to create alternate access points as well.
Unfortunately, the monsoon rains have not let up. And the continuous downpour has greatly hindered and at times suspended the rescue operations, as exploring the caves during times of flooding is extremely dangerous. This has also made pumping out water from the caves somewhat ineffective when they just begin to flood again (not to mention the electrical hazards), but when the rain lets up they have continued to try to empty the system of caves as much as possible.
Featured image: Thai soldiers searching for the missing children and their coach march out of the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, in northern Thailand on Friday, June 29, 2018. | AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit
Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world.
PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States
Scrubba Wash Bag
Our ultra-portable washing machine makes your journey easier. This convenient, pocket-sized travel companion allows you to travel lighter while helping you save money, time and water.
Our roots in shooting sports started off back in 1996 with our founder and CEO, Josh Ungier. His love of airguns took hold of our company from day one and we became the first e-commerce retailer dedicated to airguns, optics, ammo, and accessories. Over the next 25 years, customers turned to us for our unmatched product selection, great advice, education, and continued support of the sport and airgun industry.
COMMENTS
There are on this article.
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.