Four boys among a group of 13 trapped in a flooded Thai cave for more than a fortnight were rescued on Sunday after surviving a treacherous escape, raising hopes elite divers would also save the others soon.
The rescued boys emerged as night fell from the Tham Luang cave complex after divers guided them along a route of more than four kilometres (2.5 miles) that included twisting, extremely narrow and jagged passageways filled with water.
Their escape led to an explosion of jubilation on social media in Thailand as the rescued boys were rushed to hospital.
But the survival of those remaining in the cave is far from guaranteed with extraction efforts put on hold until Monday morning to allow rescue divers time to resupply.
Rescue chief Narongsak Osottanakorn said the four who escaped were “safe”, although there were few other details released about their condition on identities.
A defence ministry official had earlier told AFP six boys had made it out. But Narongsak and the Thai Navy SEALS — who are involved in the rescue and have regularly posted updates about the operation on their Facebook page — reported only four were out of the cave.
The group became trapped in a cramped chamber deep inside Tham Luang in a mountainous area of northern Thailand on June 23, when they went in after football practice to explore and got caught behind rising waters after a torrential downpour.
Their plight transfixed Thailand and the rest of the world, as authorities struggled to locate them and then devise a plan to get the boys — aged between 11 and 16 — and their 25-year-old coach out.
The group was found dishevelled and hungry by British cave diving specialists nine days after they ventured in.
Initial euphoria over finding the boys alive quickly turned into deep anxiety as rescuers struggled to find a way to get them out.
The death of a former Thai Navy SEAL diver who ran out of oxygen in the cave on Friday underscored the danger of the journey even for professionals.
