(1) BREAKING: Divers have entered the cave in Thailand to start bringing the boys out. Worsening weather has forced their hand.
Live updates here:
smh.com.au/world/asia/liv…
Live updates here:
smh.com.au/world/asia/liv…
(2) Thai authorities spent the past 24 hours preparing the area with screens to keep the media out (good), and ambulances and helicopters on standby ready to ferry the boys to hospital. The mission is risky; anything could happen.
smh.com.au/world/asia/tea…
smh.com.au/world/asia/tea…
(3) 18 divers went in just over an hour ago at 10am local time Sunday (11pm EDT Saturday). Expect the mission to take up to two days. 
(4) Good background article with diagram of the cave, showing some of the challenges the rescuers and boys face: smh.com.au/world/asia/int…
(5) No news yet from inside the caves but that's not expected for a few more hours yet. Here is a short thread from the Thai government.
(6) Press releases about the cave rescue operation, from the Thai government news agency:
thainews.prd.go.th/website_en/home
thainews.prd.go.th/website_en/home
(7) IMO the extreme difficulty of this mission cannot be overestimated. This article talks about the various Australian divers involved, including the uniquely qualified doctor: smh.com.au/world/asia/the…
(8) The first two boys are out of the cave! Fantastic.
Reported just after 7pm local time, 8am EST.
Live updates: smh.com.au/world/asia/liv…
#ThaiCaveRescue
Reported just after 7pm local time, 8am EST.
Live updates: smh.com.au/world/asia/liv…
#ThaiCaveRescue
(9) Sydney Morning Herald reported 11 minutes later that a third boy has made it out - unconfirmed as yet.
(10) An ambulance takes each boy to a nearby field where they are transferred to a helicopter then hospital to help them recover. The boys & their coach were assessed inside the cave by a doctor as fit to make the journey out.
(11) Can you imagine the bravery and skill of the boys and men involved... incredible.
3 boys confirmed rescued so far. Helicopter blades seen moving.
3 boys confirmed rescued so far. Helicopter blades seen moving.
(12) Once they reach Chamber 3 they can walk out. Things are moving fast now.
(14) Four more boys to walk out of cave soon (Source: AFP).
Also, another good source of updates is: @RichardBarrow.
Also, another good source of updates is: @RichardBarrow.
(15) One of the boys is in serious condition. Confirmed: 6 boys rescued, 6 + 1 coach remain.
(16) The first boy rescued from the cave has been named as 14-year-old Mongkol "Mark" Boonpiam, according to a local Thai media outlet and the NYT.
(17) Best source of live updates I have seen yet: channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/thai…
(18) A thank you to the US military, who have been assisting in this operation from the start.
(19) Incredible skills and courage:
(20) Boys 5 and 6 coming out of the cave now.
(21) First pictures: One of the boys being carried to an ambulance.
(22) Massive operation:
(23) Great work!
(24) Operation is now pausing for 10-20 hours to prepare oxygen & other critical supplies before resuming. It's late at night here so I bid you goodnight. Check @SaksithCNA for updates & for info.
(25) RIP Sgt. Saman Kunan (Ret.)
(26) There's a growing body of Thai cartoons in support of the boys, whose soccer team is named the Wild Boars. This drawing is titled "Boar Go Home." 😘
(27) The above cartoon was in a tweet with the Thai hashtag #พาทีมหมูป่ากลับบ้าน which means "Bring the boar team back home." As @BloodStrokes pointed out, the caption in the drawing appears to be Japanese for "To be continued." Which the mission is... and Godspeed to them.
(28) Once the rescue mission is complete, I think an art exhibition of drawings, cartoons and photos, with proceeds going to the Saman family, the boys & the NGOs, would be great. This event is historic for the Thai people & everyone who serves in emergency management worldwide.
(29) #ThaiCaveRescue update at 8am local time (1pm US EDT). Follow @RichardBarrow, a local teacher & blogger.
(30) Retraction: I reported last night that 6, not 4 survivors were out of the cave, & that one of them had been named. The official press briefing corrected these claims, which were made by MSM outlets. Was a timely reminder to self-check all claims... a perennial issue.
(31) "Thai state-owned news agency... says the rescue mission
will begin before 5pm local time [6am US EDT], citing local rescue
officials." I would take most of the below claims with a grain of salt, though, since some MSM claims last night were false.
smh.com.au/world/asia/liv…
will begin before 5pm local time [6am US EDT], citing local rescue
officials." I would take most of the below claims with a grain of salt, though, since some MSM claims last night were false.
smh.com.au/world/asia/liv…
(32) Video clip of a diver moving through the 15" part of the cave, showing how fast the current is. Similar clips from the rescue operation in the thread that follows:
#ThaiCaveRescue
#ThaiCaveRescue
(34) Every country is proud of their own people helping with the rescue, incl: Thailand, USA, Australia, China, Denmark, UK, Finland and more.
(35) A lot of speculation online from people with no local knowledge on why the boys went into the cave.
Keep in mind that the country/society/culture is different to your own. Be patient, too.
Keep in mind that the country/society/culture is different to your own. Be patient, too.
(37) Official press briefing now underway.
(39) Confirmed: A 5th boy has been rescued and brought to hospital along with the 4 from yesterday. Everything remains on track to extract more survivors from the cave tonight. It's almost 6pm local time, with several hours left before they are expected to complete Day 2.
(51) 8 boys now out of the cave, per Reuters. Waiting to hear if more will be rescued tonight or whether effort will be suspended until Day 3. Night all, from NZ.
reuters.com/article/us-tha…
reuters.com/article/us-tha…
(52) Implication that not all of the first four boys were conscious when rescued. That's understandable, given the challenges. Hopefully it was temporary.
(53) Thread with updates on the condition of the boys rescued so far. I haven't verified that this account is official.
