Prayut to visit flooded cave for moral support

Prayut to visit flooded cave for moral support

Soldiers and rescue workers carry water pipes to Tham Luang cave during a search for members of a youth football team and their coach in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai, on Thursday. (Reuters photo)
Soldiers and rescue workers carry water pipes to Tham Luang cave during a search for members of a youth football team and their coach in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai, on Thursday. (Reuters photo)

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will visit Tham Luang in Chian Rai province in a show of moral support for the 13 people trapped in the flooded cave, their families and rescuers.

Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said on Thursday the prime minister wanted to give his support but did not want his trip to disrupt the search of 12 missing members of the Muu Paa Academy Mae Sai football team and their trainer.

The visit could be on Friday morning or during the weekend, Lt Gen Sansern added.

An unconfirmed report said he planned to leave at 7am on Friday.

Rain and high water levels in the cave obstructed divers to move forward to the so-called Pattaya beach, a dry ground chamber where the missing persons might have been waiting for help.

Divers suspended the search in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai, as the cave overflowed, forcing authorities to stop pumping water and cut off electricity inside. The divers needed headspace of 10-20cm between the water and passageway ceiling.  

The rain stopped on Thursday afternoon and Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said at the site that rescuers were raising wires above water in Tham Luang to resume pumping water out and allow divers to continue the search.

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