Thailand: Official admits big challenges in cave rescue operation
Challenges to the rescue of the 12 young footballers and their coach trapped inside the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Chiang Rai, Thailand, exceeded what officials and experts had projected, rescue operation chief Narongsak Osoththanakorn said on July 7.
Divers of the rescue operation in Tham Luang cave (Photo: Thai NavySEAL/Facebook)
Hanoi (VNA) – Challenges to the rescue of the 12young footballers and their coach trapped inside the Tham Luang Nang Non cavein Chiang Rai, Thailand, exceeded what officials and experts had projected,rescue operation chief Narongsak Osoththanakorn said on July 7.
The former Chiang Rai Governor said at a pressconference in front of the Tham Luang Nang Non cave that it had been very hardto find the football team, but it is now even more difficult to bring them outof the cave.
Narongsak Osottanakorn, who was recentlyappointed Governor of Phayao province, said the biggest challenge is seekingsolutions to get them out of the cave because all current plans are facing bigobstacles.
He told reporters earlier the same day that itis "not suitable" to make the boys dive to safety yet. Therewere no plans to pull the boys and their coach out overnight but if monsoonrains fell and water rose in the Tham Luang cave over the coming days, theycould change their plans.
Thailand's Navy SEAL commander earlier saidrescuers may have "limited time" to attempt the tricky job ofgetting the group out, the first official admission waiting out the monsoonperiod in the cave may not be possible.
Meanwhile, rescuers are speeding up the drillingof over 100 shafts into the mountainside in a bid to seek a safer rescuesolution. However, there haven’t been any shafts reaching the team’s location.
Narongsak Osottanakorn said some of the shaftsare as deep as 400 metres but they cannot still find their location yet. Therescue team estimate that the trapped persons are 600 metres down, but themission lacks the technology to pinpoint where they are staying.
On fears that oxygen levels in the cave isdropping, he added rescuers have managed to establish a line to pump infresh air and also withdrawn unessential workers from the cave to preservelevels inside the cave.
The boys – members of the Wild Boars footballteam between the ages 11 and 16 – had been exploring the cave network withtheir soccer coach on June 23, when heavy seasonal rains flooded the cave'sentrance, forcing the group further and further into the labyrinth of tunnelsin search of higher ground.
They were found alive on July 2 after 10 days ofbeing trapped in the flooded cave complex.-VNA
The rescue of 12 teenager football players and their coach who were found alive after being trapped in a cave in Thailand for 10 days is coming up against difficulties due to weather conditions and their health.
Two more specialists of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with expertise in disaster recovery and planning are on their way to Thailand to aid local rescue mission of a cave-trapped football team.
Thai media, reporting on the rescue mission of 12 young footballers and their assistant coach who were trapped in a flooded cave in Chiang Rai, have been urged to be discreet, respect the privacy of people concerned and to present reports constructively.
Ensuring communications with rescuers inside Tham Luang cave pose a challenge in the mission to rescue members of the football team trapped in the flooded cave, along with risks of the upcoming storm, said Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn.
Rescuers on July 6 have accelerated the rescue operation for the 12 stranded young footballers and their coach as heavy downpours are expected to hit in a matter of days, which will cause the water levels inside the cave to rise.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Divers of the rescue operation in Tham Luang cave (Photo: Thai NavySEAL/Facebook) 
