The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand is delighted to learn that the mission to rescue all 13 members of the Moo Pa (Wild Boar) Academy Mae Sai Football Team from Tham Luang Cave in Chiang Rai Province was successfully carried out and completed. The rescue mission was successful and efficient as blessed by the gracious guidance and support of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun. For over two weeks, the world has focussed its attention on the developments of the multi-national rescue mission where both Thai and foreign rescuers and the entrapped boys and coach of the football team have demonstrated the will power, courage and perseverance.

 

In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to extend its gratitude to all who have been involved but also to pay tribute to Petty Officer First Class Saman Kunan, the hero of Tham Luang Cave, a diver who lost his life during the rescue operation. We join all others in expressing our most sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to his family for their personal loss.

 

The rescue mission was undertaken by the authorities in accordance with the National and Provincial Plans on Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. The operation was an inter-agency collaboration. On 6 July 2018, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assigned officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by the Chief of Temporary Passport Office, Chiang Rai to coordinate with the provincial authorities and Chiang Rai Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office to provide assistance to the mission. The Ministry also sent additional officials from Bangkok to Chiang Rai to help coordinate with foreign rescue teams and journalists as well as facilitate visits of foreign government officials.

 

The past 17 days have been phenomenal and the success could not have been achieved without the support and assistance from our friends around the world. We are highly appreciative to all the foreign leaders and governments as well as the private sector for the messages of support, technical cooperation and all the necessary equipment and know how offered throughout this challenging mission. We are highly indebted to the persistent efforts of the international team of rescuers and diving experts whose vast expertise and selfless dedication have enabled the operation to overcome all seemingly impossible challenges. 

 

To date, 105 world class experts, cave divers, rescuers and doctors from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, China, Japan, Australia, Lao PDR and foreign expats in Thailand have contributed substantially in this mission. Myanmar also conducted their operation in their territory on the other side of the mountain. Experts from 5 countries surveyed the area to explore the possibility of providing further assistance. Representatives from both the government and private sectors of more than 20 countries offered technical assistance. In this regard, the Royal Thai Government is looking at the best appropriate way to express our appreciation to each and every expert who has been involved in this rescue operation.

 

Moreover, we feel overwhelmed and deeply heartened by the warmest words of support and kindest gestures of well-wishers conveyed from every corner of the world which truly touched our hearts. We would also like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the members of the media both domestic and international at the site and elsewhere for their cooperation and coverage that enabled the world to follow every development of the mission closely. The role played by social media and digital technology have been most useful in connecting us all.

 

The Tham Luang Cave incident is a compelling case study on crisis management and international collaborative efforts for search-and-rescue missions. We hope that the lessons and best practices extracted from this case would lead to preventive measures and more effective rescue methods for other similar incidents which may happen in the future. More importantly, it has shown the world that in times of difficulty, we are never alone. We are all in the same family of nations whose compassion and solidarity will exert their power regardless of race or belief.  

 

The youths have now been safely evacuated from the cave after 17 gruelling days. We hope that they will keep the team spirit and reunite with their beloved families. The Tham Luang Cave will always be remembered as the place where the spirit of humanity prevailed over what seemed to be insurmountable challenges.