Thai Cave Rescue: 12 boys and their coach found alive after 9 days

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02:22

Wang Tongxuan tells us more about the efforts over the past 9 days and the agonizing wait relatives had to go through.

"Thank you, thank you."

RESCUER "How many of you?"

"Thirteen"

RESCUER "Thirteen? Brilliant. We are coming, it's ok. Many people are coming."

Millions are following every stage of this rescue operation. And after nine days, an uplifting breakthrough. The 12 trapped Thai boys and their coach are found alive by divers.

On June 23rd, the group went to explore a cave after football practice in northern Thailand.

They were stranded when heavy rains cut them off from the entrance.

Rescuers found their bikes, football boots and backpacks near the cave's entrance and discovered handprints and footprints further in.

Over the past week, more than a thousand people from all over the world have been involved in the rescue operation.

Water pumps, drills, drones, sniffer dogs. The Thai government has been doing everything it possibly could.

Elite Thai military divers, top British cave divers and US military personnel are all trying to retrieve the missing.

Search and rescue efforts have been hindered by rising water and near pitch-blackness inside the cave. Debris and murky waters also leave divers with almost zero visibility.

But the search efforts have paid off. Late Monday night, the boys were located.

AIKARN WIBOONRUNREUNG MOTHER OF ONE OF THE MISSING BOYS "Today is the best day. I have been waiting for my son for so many days. I am so excited. The first thing I will do is hug him. I would like to thank all journalists who are here."

Right now, the challenge is to get them all out safely, as rising water and mud impede access.

And waiting outside the caves, are the boys' families waiting to embrace them.