Rescue starts with 18 divers sent into cave, earliest the boys would emerge estimated at 10pm local time

A group of Thai Navy divers in Tham Long cave during rescue operations for the 12 boys and their football team coach trapped in the cave at Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park in the Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province, on July 7, 2018. PHOTO: AFP.

CHIANG RAI (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): The rescue of 12 trapped boys and their football coach started on Sunday (July 8), with 18 divers sent into Tham Luang cave. The earliest the boys would emerge could be 9pm (10pm Malaysia time).

The divers - 13 international and five Thais - went into the cave at 10am local time, according to a press conference held at the site.

“Today is the peak of our readiness,” Narongsak Osottanakorn, a former provincial governor who is leading the rescue efforts, said at the press conference, The Guardian reported.

“Everything is ready. The boys are ready and willing to come out. The doctors and medics are ready. The parents are ready,” said Mr Narongsak.

It is possible for divers to advance to the third chamber on foot, he added.

Narongsak would not confirm if the boys and their coach have to dive out of the cave, saying only that Sunday is the best day to attempt the journey “because most of the path is walkable”, according to The Guardian.

Narongsak said on Sunday morning that extraction rehearsals were conducted throughout Saturday.