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8 boys brought out of flooded Thai cave in 'immense' rescue operation

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1st group freed on Sunday said to be in good health

Onlookers watch and cheer as ambulances deliver boys rescued from a cave in northern Thailand to hospital in Chiang Rai after they were transported by helicopters. (Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)

Rescue workers in Thailand on Monday brought four boys safely out of a labyrinthine flooded cave complex where a 12-member soccer squad and their coach have been trapped for more than two weeks, taking the total number rescued to eight.

The mission to save all those trapped could take three or four days, officials have said, a race against the clock with heavy rain expected this week that would again flood the tunnels with fast-flowing, rising water.

"The eighth person is out and the operation is done for today," Sitthichai Klangpattana, flag officer to Thailand's navy SEAL commander, told The Associated Press. "Four boys were brought out today."

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He didn't comment on the health of the boys or how well the operation had gone.

The dramatic and dangerous rescue was launched on Sunday and four boys were brought out that day. They were in good condition in hospital, officials said.

"The rescue has been immense," said volunteer helper Somjit Saenset, 56. "I'm so happy the children came out safely. I want to send my moral support for all involved" in the rest of the mission.

Show more Teams will attempt to retrieve rest of soccer team after resting and refurbishing equipment 0:41

The Wild Boars soccer team and their coach, 25, got trapped on June 23 when they set out to explore the vast cave complex after soccer practice, but a rain season downpour flooded the tunnels.

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British divers found the 13, huddled on a muddy bank in a partly flooded chamber several kilometres inside the complex, last Monday.

Efforts to rescue the boys — aged 11 to 16 — got going again on Monday after a break to replenish oxygen supplies and make other preparations deep inside the cave complex.

The death Friday of a former Thai navy SEAL underscored the risks. The diver, the first fatality of the rescue effort, was working in a volunteer capacity and died on a mission to place air canisters along the passage to where the boys are, necessary for divers to safely travel the five- to six-hour route.

A soldier blocks a road leading to the cave complex were the boys are stuck. Media and onlookers were pushed back ahead of the rescue effort. (Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters)

Thirteen foreign divers and five members of Thailand's elite navy SEAL unit are the main team guiding the boys to safety through narrow, submerged passageways that claimed the life of a former Thai navy diver on Friday.

Narongsak said more personnel were being used in the rescue on Monday.

In good health

On Sunday, divers held the first four boys close to bring them out, and each had to wear an oxygen mask to enable normal breathing, authorities said.

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Narongsak said rescuers had to tighten a guide rope as part of their preparations for Monday's operation.

Thai authorities evacuate cave area for 'rescue operation'

Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda told reporters the four boys rescued on Sunday were in good health in hospital but did not give details. There was no word on the condition of any of the people brought out on Monday.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha went to the cave to inspect the rescue operation, with navy rescuers giving him a rousing cheer.

Classmates at Mae Sai Prasitsart school, in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand, pray after their teacher announced some of the 12 schoolboys trapped inside a flooded cave had been rescued. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Authorities have not confirmed the identity of the first four boys rescued. Some of the parents told Reuters they had not been told who had been rescued and that they were not allowed to visit the hospital.

Narongsak said the rescued boys had not been identified out of respect for the families whose sons were still trapped, adding that the boys were being kept away from their parents because of fear of infection.

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"The four children are well at Chiang Rai Prachanukroh hospital. But they still need to be kept away from their parents and others," he said.

Medical teams previously said concerns included hypothermia and an airborne lung infection known as "cave disease," which is caused by bat and bird droppings.

Somboon Sompiangjai, 38, the father of one of the trapped boys, said parents were told by rescuers ahead of Sunday's operation the "strongest children" would be brought out first.

(CBC)

"We have not been told which child has been brought out.... We can't visit our boys in hospital because they need to be monitored for 48 hours," Somboon told Reuters.

"I'm hoping for good news today," he said.

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Show more Airlifted to hospital one day after first few soccer players were rescued 1:00

The cave complex is off-limits during the rainy season, which usually runs from May to October, when downpours can quickly flood it.

Relatives said the boys had been inside the complex during the dry season.

The president of soccer's governing body, FIFA, has invited the boys to the World Cup final in Moscow on Sunday if they make it out in time.

(CBC)

Show more Video provided by rescuers shows the first four boys being stretchered out of Tham Luang cave complex, where they had been trapped since Jun 23. Note that this video was provided without sound. 0:40

With files from The Associated Press