Thai soldiers drag water pipes that will help bypass water from entering a cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, in northern Thailand Saturday, July 7, 2018...

MAE SAI, Thailand (AP) - The Latest on the rescue of 12 schoolboys and their coach from a cave in northern Thailand (all times local):

A Thai governor says the operation to bring out 12 schoolboys and their soccer coach from deep inside a cave where they have been trapped for two weeks has begun. Chiang Rai former governor Narongsak Osottanakorn, who is heading the rescue operation, had said Sunday was the "perfect day" to launch the daring rescue before heavy rain was again expected inundate the Tham Luang caves, 60km from Chiang Rai. WATCH: What the boys and the divers have to go through to make their way out of Tham Luang cave complex



More than 90 divers took part in the rescue operation on Sunday, which kicked off at 10am (local time). In an upbeat assessment, he said “it’s perfect conditions like yesterday” and that “I expect in the next four to five hours we will have good news”, reflecting on the fact there had been fewer tropical showers than forecast. Bursts of heavy monsoon rain soaked the Tham Luang Cave area in northern Chiang Rai province on Sunday and storms were expected in coming weeks, increasing the risks in what has been called a "war with water and time" to save the team.
Four boys are rescued from the cave.