Day three of rescue operations started in Thailand on Tuesday to evacuate the four boys and their soccer coach who are still trapped in a cave in the remote northern part of the country. Divers and rescue workers have begun what could be the final push bring them out of the Tham Luang Nang Non cave complex.
Rescue operations began on Sunday and eight boys have been taken out of the cave since then, but five others remain trapped on a ledge 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) inside the cave system. Those still in the cave have spend 17 nights in cave.
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The eight boys who have been rescued from are healthy, fever-fee, mentally fit and talking normally, medical officials in Chiang Rai said at a news conference on Tuesday.
Dr. Jedsada Chokedamrongsook, the permanent secretary of the Thai Health Ministry, said he expects the boys will spend about seven days in hospital because of their weakened immune systems.
Right now, they are all in quarantine as authorities work to determine whether or not any of them contracted infections in the dark, damp cave.
Families of the first four boys rescued had been able to visit them through a glass window.
The boys are members of the Wild Boars football team, who along with their coach got trapped in the caves.
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