Thailand Cave Rescue: Six boys evacuated safely; next phase of operation to resume in next 10-20 hours

As the first phase of the "highly dangerous" rescue operation to evacuate 12 Thailand footballers and their coach trapped in Tham Luang caves began around 10 am on Sunday, News Nation reached ground zero, that is Chiang Rai, to cover "one of the greatest rescue operations in history".

According to reports, thirteen medical teams are waiting outside the cave with their respective helicopters and ambulance - one for each of the 12 boys and their coach.

According to Narongsak Osotthanakorn, the rescue chief, it was the best time to start the final operation as the boys and their coach were physically and mentally fit for the rescue mission and also the water level at many spots in the cave was currently low.

Following the unprecedented rescue effort, the boys will be airlifted around 50 miles to the Chiang Rai Prachanukroh hospital. Five emergency response doctors have been awaiting the party and a further 30 doctors are on standby to provide services after they reach the hospital.

Here are the LIVE updates on Thailand Cave Rescue:

# 07:46 PM: The rescue has been concluded for the night and will resume in 10 to 20 hours because the rescue team has used all the oxygen, according to the operation chief.

# 07:42 PM: The health of the evacuated boys is 'perfect', says Osottanakorn.

# 07:30 PM: Rescue workers now need 10 hours to prepare for the next stage of this remarkable operation, says rescue chief Narongsak Osottanakorn.

# 07:18 PM: One of the six boys rescued from the cave is being "closely monitored".

# 07:10 PM: Six boys from the group of 12 children who have been trapped inside a cave in northern Thailand for more than two weeks have been freed from the flooded cave.

# 06:44 PM: "The U.S. is working very closely with the Government of Thailand to help get all of the children out of the cave and to safety. Very brave and talented people," tweeted US President Donald Trump.

The U.S. is working very closely with the Government of Thailand to help get all of the children out of the cave and to safety. Very brave and talented people!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 8, 2018

# 06:12 PM: Four of the 13 trapped are already out of the cave and undergoing a medical examination.

The area outside the hospital has been cordoned off and police are patrolling the area. On the street leading to the hospital, vendors are being ordered to "keep off the road" and to "not obstruct the transfer mission".

Thailand Cave Rescue: News Nation reaches ground zero: https://t.co/Z1HypaBHXn via @YouTube

— News Nation (@NewsNationTV) July 8, 2018

While the members of Thai football team are on their way to the entrance of the cave, News Nation is providing you with every moment details of the Thailand cave rescue operation. The team has also interacted with local people offering prayers to the king of Chiang Rai for the well-being of kids.

Read | Missing for 10 days, Thailand footballers, coach found alive in flooded cave

Fourteen-year-old Adul "Dul" Sam-on would be the first of the 13 trapped persons to be brought out of the cave. Their coach, Ekkapol Chantawong will be the last person to be evacuated. All of them will swim and dive the approximately 5 km stretch inside the cave before reaching the entrance of the cave.

Watch the Tham Luang caves rescue operation LIVE from Thailand with Peenaz Tyagi only on News Nation. You can also log in to www.newsnation.in for all the latest updates on Thailand cave rescue operation.