Thai cave rescuers face race against time

Dwindling oxygen levels and forecasts of heavy rain are adding to pressure on authorities trying to work out a rescue plan for 12 boys and their football coach trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand

THAILAND
Bangkok
300km 200 miles
Tham Luang cave complex

Doi Nang Non mountain 1,276m
Pong Pha
Group found in cave under this point
Main entrance

Former Thai navy diver dies while returning used air tanks to Chamber 3
Cave widens again
Pattaya Beach Smallest section
Cave widens
T-Junction
Tunnel narrows to around one metre high
Chamber 3 Operation base
Chamber 2
Entrance

Person to scale

Cross-sections of cave taken from 1986 survey

Group of 12 boys and football coach found perched on rock shelf in small chamber about 4km from cave mouth

200m 650ft


Static rope
Full-face mask
Compressed air bottle
Boy’s bottle
Tether to diver

Teaching boys how to swim and use breathing apparatus so they can be escorted out of cave by rescue divers, is thought to be most realistic option

Picture: Google Earth
Sources: French Federation of Speleology, British Cave Rescue Council, BBC © GRAPHIC NEWS