The trauma that had gripped the entire nation of Thailand when 12 boys and their football coach went missing in the caves had finally come to an end, when they were found by divers yesterday (July 2) after a long search of nine days. It was two British divers, Rick Stanton and John Volanthen, that had discovered the missing individuals after a search operation that had been conducted in the Tham Luang caves in Chiang Rai.

But, the challenge still lies as the party has to be driven out safely, amidst the rising water and mud. The news of the rescue was welcomed by the ecstatic families who had been mourning the loss of their kids. The group of kids and their coach were found at a higher ground 400m (440 yards) away to avoid the rising tides, from the underground chamber nicknamed Pattaya Beach where the rescuers had hoped they would be.

The lost kids had gripped the nation in a wallow of grief and ever since the news of them being found had broken out, it had resulted in an outpour of support by the nation’s people.

The incident had occurred when the boys aged 11 to 16 and their coach had gone out to explore the caves on the 2nd July. Although they have been found, the extraction of the kids would be a whole difficult question that the authorities would have to figure out. Medical treatment and food are been prioritized in order to rebuild their strength.

The 12 kids are members of the Moo Pa – or Wild Boar – football team. Ekkapol Janthawong, their 25-year-old assistant coach who was also among the lost group had taken them on day trips occasionally before as well, including a trip to the very cave two years back

The Governor Narongsak Osottanakorn, Chiang Rai had addressed a press conference at the command centre near the cave entrance and had stated that the group is all safe but that the mission is still incomplete because the most important thing would be to extract them and send them back to their houses safely.

Already the operation had involved more than 1000 people including teams from China, Myanmar, Laos, Australia and the US, as well as Britain.

• Weekly fuel quota increased
• IMF Deputy Managing Director Kenji Okamura to arrive in Sri Lanka
• Virus spreading among pigs detected in the Western Province
• PM leaves the island for an official visit to Thailand
• Dasun Shanaka to lead Sri Lanka in ODIs against Afghanistan