The second phase of the treacherous operation to rescue the youth football team began on Monday. It was confirmed at 11am BST that a fifth boy had been freed. An hour later, two more were reportedly taken to safety. And an eighth was seen on a stretcher at around 1pm BST, a witness said, as the second day of rescue operations draw to a close. 

Four boys and their coach remain trapped amid a race against time and water. Those rescued so far are said to be in "good health".

Rescuers have been rushing to save the boys - aged 11 to 16 - and their coach from the cave as monsoon rains bore down on the mountainous region in far northern Chiang Rai province.

Authorities said heavy downpours overnight did not raise water levels in the cave, where workers continue to pump water out. Local official Narongsak Osottanakorn said: "Today we are ready like before. And we will do it faster because we are afraid of the rain."

The boys pulled from the cave on Sunday were rescued in an urgent and dangerous operation, which involved them diving through the cave's tight and twisting passages.

They are undergoing medical checks in hospital while in quarantine, meaning they are not yet allowed close contact with relatives due to fear of infections.

Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda had said early on Monday that the same divers who took part in Sunday's rescue would return to save the others. He had said fresh air tanks needed to be laid along the underwater route.

Thailand has waited anxiously for news of the safe return of the boys and their 25-year-old coach since they became trapped in the Tham Luang cave complex on June 23, in a saga that has dominated global headlines.

They spent nine days unaccounted for inside the cave, before British divers found the emaciated and dishevelled group huddling on a muddy bank.

The Telegraph

Live: Prime Minister's Questions

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•  Danny Boyle 
 
• Nicola Smith, in chiang rai 
 
• Rob Crilly

9 JULY 2018 • 1:37PMFollow 

• Mission to rescue remaining five in Thai cave is under way
• Four boys brought to surface on Sunday are in 'good health'
• 'Four more children' rescued from flooded cave on Monday
• Parents told 'no hugging or kissing' until health checks cleared
• Boys and football coach were trapped a fortnight ago
• Heavy rains raise growing fears for safety of those still stuck
• Meet the 'A-Team' of volunteer British divers who led search

Four more youngsters have reportedly been freed from the flooded Thai cave - a day after four boys were pulled from the complex having spent more than a fortnight underground.

The second phase of the treacherous operation to rescue the youth football team began on Monday. It was confirmed at 11am BST that a fifth boy had been freed. An hour later, two more were reportedly taken to safety. And an eighth was seen on a stretcher at around 1pm BST, a witness said. 

Four boys and their coach remain trapped amid a race against time and water. Those rescued so far are said to be in "good health".

Rescuers have been rushing to save the boys - aged 11 to 16 - and their coach from the cave as monsoon rains bore down on the mountainous region in far northern Chiang Rai province.

Authorities said heavy downpours overnight did not raise water levels in the cave, where workers continue to pump water out. Local official Narongsak Osottanakorn said: "Today we are ready like before. And we will do it faster because we are afraid of the rain."

Rescue workers use umbrellas to a stretcher close to a police helicopter at a military airport in Chiang Rai  CREDIT: LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA /AFP/GETTY

The boys pulled from the cave on Sunday were rescued in an urgent and dangerous operation, which involved them diving through the cave's tight and twisting passages.

They are undergoing medical checks in hospital while in quarantine, meaning they are not yet allowed close contact with relatives due to fear of infections.

Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda had said early on Monday that the same divers who took part in Sunday's rescue would return to save the others. He had said fresh air tanks needed to be laid along the underwater route.

Thailand has waited anxiously for news of the safe return of the boys and their 25-year-old coach since they became trapped in the Tham Luang cave complex on June 23, in a saga that has dominated global headlines.

They spent nine days unaccounted for inside the cave, before British divers found the emaciated and dishevelled group huddling on a muddy bank.