People from all corners of the world were overwhelmed with joy after the last of the group of young footballers was extracted from Tham Luang cave in Mae Sai district in the northern province of Chiang Rai on Tuesday.
The 17 day-rescue mission was launched to search for the 12 members of the Moo Paa (Wild Boars) Academy football team and their 25-year-old assistant coach after they entered the cave, which is part of the Tham Luang Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park, on June 23 and became trapped inside by flash flooding.
With a concerted effort from both Thai and foreign agencies, a rescue team of British diving experts and Thai Navy Seals found all of them on July 2.
The first group were brought out of the cave and rushed to Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital in Muang district last Sunday (July 8), the second on Monday (July 9) and the last on Tuesday (July 10).
Stretching along 10 kilometres as a backdrop of tambon Pong Pha, the mountain range looks like a reclining woman from afar.
The park is also a tourist destination due to its stunning stalactites and stalagmites. Inside the cave, visitors can pay homage to a Buddha statue enshrined in a small hall.
After the incident, the park is being closed for six months for rehabilitation.
