[헤럴드경제]태국 치앙라이 동굴에 2주째 갇힌 유소년 축구팀 선수 12명과 코치를 구조하는 작업이 8일 본격 시작됐다. 이르면 이날 밤 동굴을 나올 수도 있을 것으로 기대가 되고 있다.

현지 언론과 외신에 따르면 구조대를 지휘하는 나롱싹 오솟따나꼰 전 치앙라이 지사는 “오늘이 ‘D데이’”라면서 이날 오전 10시(이하 현지시간) 내외국인 다이버 18명이 참가한 가운데 구조작업이 시작됐다고 밝혔다.

<YONHAP PHOTO-5164> In this undated photo released by Royal Thai Navy on Saturday, July 7, 2018, Thai rescue team members walk inside a cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand. The local governor in charge of the mission to rescue them said Saturday that cooperating weather and falling water levels over the last few days had created appropriate conditions for evacuation, but that they won't last if it rains again. (Royal Thai Navy via AP)/2018-07-07 21:24:28/ <저작권자 ⓒ 1980-2018 ㈜연합뉴스. 무단 전재 재배포 금지.> <YONHAP PHOTO-5164> In this undated photo released by Royal Thai Navy on Saturday, July 7, 2018, Thai rescue team members walk inside a cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand. The local governor in charge of the mission to rescue them said Saturday that cooperating weather and falling water levels over the last few days had created appropriate conditions for evacuation, but that they won't last if it rains again. (Royal Thai Navy via AP)/2018-07-07 21:24:28/ <저작권자 ⓒ 1980-2018 ㈜연합뉴스. 무단 전재 재배포 금지.>
In this undated photo released by Royal Thai Navy on Saturday, July 7, 2018, Thai rescue team members walk inside a cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand. The local governor in charge of the mission to rescue them said Saturday that cooperating weather and falling water levels over the last few days had created appropriate conditions for evacuation, but that they won't last if it rains again. (Royal Thai Navy via AP)/2018-07-07 21:24:28/ <저작권자 ⓒ 1980-2018 ㈜연합뉴스. 무단 전재 재배포 금지.> In this undated photo released by Royal Thai Navy on Saturday, July 7, 2018, Thai rescue team members walk inside a cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand. The local governor in charge of the mission to rescue them said Saturday that cooperating weather and falling water levels over the last few days had created appropriate conditions for evacuation, but that they won't last if it rains again. (Royal Thai Navy via AP)/2018-07-07 21:24:28/ <저작권자 ⓒ 1980-2018 ㈜연합뉴스. 무단 전재 재배포 금지.>

그는 “날씨와 (동굴내 수로의) 수위가 (구조하기에) 좋다”면서 “소년들도 정신적, 육체적으로 나올 준비가 돼 있다”고 말했다.

그는 또 소년들이 1인당 2명의 다이버와 함께 차례로 구조될 것이라며 이르면 이날 오후 9시께 구조작업이 끝날 것으로 기대한다고 밝혔다.

당국은 구조작업에 앞서 작업 공간을 확보하려고 이날 아침 일찍 동굴 주변에 있던 1천여 명의 취재진 등에게 “구조작업과 관련 없는 사람들은 즉시 동굴 주변에서 떠나달라”며 소개령을 내렸다. 다이버와 의료진 수십 명은 동굴 입구로 집결했다.


suk@heraldcorp.com