Rescuers search for the 12 missing boys and their football coach (Photo: NNT) Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - Rescuerssearching for the 12 missing boys and their football coach believed strandeddeep inside Tham Luang cave in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province areracing against time, as the local weather bureau expects that precipitationwill return on July 4 - 7.
According to the Meteorological Department,the southwestern monsoon dominating the Andaman Sea will weaken on July 2 and 3,resulting in less rain in all regions of Thailand. Nevertheless, about 40percent of the North is facing more rain.
Renewed rainfall is expected throughout theKingdom during the period July 4 - 7, as the monsoon is likely to intensify.About 40 percent - 60 percent of the North could experience thundershowers.
The Phrapiroon Tropical Storm currentlydominating the Pacific Ocean is moving towards Japan over the next couple ofdays and is unlikely to have any effect on Thailand
Efforts by local Navy Seal units, variousdisaster relief agencies consisting of local and foreign volunteers continue tosearch for the missing football team believed stranded deep inside Tham Luangcave in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province. Recently the ProvincialElectricity Authority has been able to provide lighting inside the cave.
Although the main plan is to rely on diversmaking direct contact with the missing individuals inside the cave, otherofficials have been dispatched to find alternative entrances to the cave bothon land and from the air. Late reports say the teams have discovered that acliff “Pha Mee” on the right wing of the cave may have a chute connected to theinside of the cave. Rescuers are now exploring the location.
Meanwhile, the drilling team has found twoprobable spots outside Tham Luang cave that could lead directly to the locationof the missing 13 inside. The group has installed a cross sectional scanner todetermine the optimal drilling mark before beginning an excavation.
Officials have now slowed the speed ofdraining the Tham Luang cave after the water level inside reached asatisfactory level. Patrol units have also constructed a weir to temporarilyredirect the water flow away from the cave.
Minister of Agriculture and CooperativesGrisada Boonrach has instructed officials in Chiang Rai to provide assistanceto the Chiang Rai Provincial Agriculture and Cooperatives Office to create anunderstanding with farmers affected by the water being drained from the cave.He said the compensation measures would later be made known.-NNT/VNA
VNA
