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Rescued monk (3rd from left) in Thailand: freed from a flooded cave
Photo: HANDOUT / AFP
Rescue divers have freed a Buddhist monk from a flooded cave in Thailand where he had retired for meditation.
According to the rescue workers, the abbot of a monastery alerted the authorities after the monk did not return three days after the start of a pilgrimage.
As a result, a team of divers was sent out on Tuesday, but had to cancel its mission in the Phra Sai Ngam cave in the north of the country due to heavy rainfall.
A second rescue operation with around a hundred helpers on Wednesday was finally successful.
The monk was reportedly taken to hospital with a low fever.
According to the BBC, an unusually strong storm with heavy rains flooded the cave.
17 divers were involved in the rescue operation, it said.
The 46-year-old monk had to cover a distance of twelve meters under water for the rescue.
The mission brings back memories of a Thai youth soccer team that was rescued from a flooded cave in 2018 after 18 days.
wit / AFP
