Published 21:03 IST, November 3rd 2019
Thailand cave from where soccer team was rescued, reopens to tourists
The government of Thailand has officially reopened the cave to tourists where 12 youths and their coach were trapped during a rescue operation last year.
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The government of Thailand has officially reopened the cave to tourists where 12 football players and their coach were trapped during a rescue operation that received global recognition last year. According to the reports, nearly 2000 visitors came to visit the reopening of Tham Luang cave on November 1 hoping to be the first to enter the world-famous site in Chiang Rai. It has been shut to visitors since members of the Wild Boars youth soccer team were trapped for 17 days in the flooded caves nearly 15 months ago.
Cave visited by more than a million people
The cave has been visited by more than a million people over the past year. According to the reports, no one has been able to go inside the caves due to restoration efforts. According to a media outlet, 20 people were admitted at a time inside the cave's mouth and the first chamber. The timings of the attraction are between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Director of the local conservation office, Kamolchai Kotcha, who looks after the cave said that they have granted permission to the visitors to see the mouth of the cave. More than 90 divers were part of the rescue efforts which saw experts from various part of the country trying to help.
The youths and their coach were rescued
The youths, aged between 11 and 16, and their coach had all been rescued by July 10 of last year. The young boys were handcuffed and unhurried during the rescue process. Moreover, all the boys survived, Thai Navy diver Saman Gunan lost his life after losing consciousness while making his way out of the treacherous caverns as he was delivering air tanks during the rescue efforts. British cave diver Jason Mallinson said it is one of the most difficult and dangerous things he has ever done in his life.
18:18 IST, November 3rd 2019