International friends send in teams of experts, equipment
THE INTERNATIONAL community continues to provide support in Thailand’s hour of need, joining the effort to rescue 12 teenaged football players and their assistant missing in a Chiang Rai cave, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said yesterday.
Countries have expressed their worries as well as dispatched rescue experts to join the efforts on the ground at Tham Luang cave in the province, he said.
Experts and technical assistance from the United States, United Kingdom, China, Japan, Myanmar and Laos has arrived at the site, Don said.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-0-cha said he would ask Myanmar to help block water flowing into the cave, which is located near the border.
Six Chinese cave search and rescue experts arrived in Chiang Rai yesterday, along with high technology equipment such as a 3D spectrometer and underwater robots, according to the Chinese Embassy in Thailand. The team has experience in cave rescues in Myanmar and Nepal.
Earlier, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said two experts would advise the Irrigation Department on the task of draining water out of the cave to enable rescue teams to reach inside portions of the cave.
Two high-pressure water-pumps provided by JICA assistance to the department have been sent to the site.
Thailand is seeking assistance from Japan to have muddy water divers join the team on the ground, according to an official at the Foreign Ministry.
Foreign experts working at the cave, including rescue and diving teams from the United States Indo-Pacific Command (PACOM) and United Kingdom, have been at the site since Thursday.
The US PACOM brought |high technology equipment, including 3D infra-red scanners and satellite linked geological survey monitors, to aid the Thai team in the operation.