Thailand cave mission: Officials discuss next stage of rescue op to save remaining 9 members

Bangkok, July 9: Authorities were having a busy time discussing the subsequent phases of carrying out the mission to rescue the remaining four members of the Wild Boars soccer team which has remained trapped inside a complex cave system in northern Thailand's Chiang Mai province for over two weeks now.

On Sunday, July 8, four members of the team were brought out of the cave by a team of 18 experienced divers belonging to Thailand as well as the international community as the dangers of more rain and deteriorating oxygen levels loomed large. On diver died last week while carrying out the duty of reaching air tanks to the stranded team, the members of which are aged between 11 and 16, and its 25-year-old coach.

The team got trapped inside the cave which they had entered to explore June end after monsoon flooding blocked their way out. They were located only on July 2 by British divers and the authorities have been on their toes ever since to evacuate them.

The four rescued boys were taken to a hospital for medical checkup while wait was on for the divers to bring out the rest of the nine members of the team. The rescue teams were looking after replenishing the oxygen supply to the underground spot where the youngsters were stuck before resuming the next phase of the operation.

In a statement, Thailand's Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said officials discussed about the next stage of the rescue operation on Monday (July 9) morning. He said more air tanks were required to be placed along the underwater route to bring out the boys and it could be a time-taking process.

It's a very tough fight going on out (or in) there and the entire world is praying for safe evacuation of the entire football team.