The Floody Fight Keeping the Thai Treasure Alive
On a scorching July day in 2018, farmers like Lek Lapdaungpoin were wrestling with rogue waves that threatened to swallow their fields and the very lifeblood of their livelihood. Meanwhile, a group of boys and their football coach were literally stuck in a cave that was seeping water like a bad bathtub leak. But stay tuned, because the rescue story is about to get a little less dark and a lot more heroic.
Why the Water Won’t Let Go
- Floods are normal, but this one was a twist of fate. Hundreds of acres of fertile land were suddenly turned into a pond.
- Water in the cave is a real game‑changer. It blocked the boys’ escape route and left them stranded like an episode of Survivor.
- Thirteen lives—can’t be created, but can definitely be saved.
Power Struggle: Pumps vs. Voltage
With 19 mega‑pumps in the mix, each driving a little less than an inch of water out every hour, it’s like a big queuing process where everyone wants the last piece of cake. According to Thai first responder Poonshak Wonjsangiam, the problem is simply that the grid isn’t big enough to keep all those machines humming at once.
They’ve already digested 128 million liters… and you could fit
…60 Olympic‑sized pools into that rotational water. The engineers also rerouted mountain streams to choke the flow head‑on, funneling the excess to nearby fields, streams, and makeshift underground wells. The locals called it “nature’s ditch work.”
The Rainbow of Helpers
In the middle of this chaos were experts from every corner of the globe—divers, drillers, emergency responders—assembled like a tiny army of 100+ Supertaco squads. With help from the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s Shigeki Miyake, they’re trying to board the water’s raft, so that every second counts and doesn’t get lost in the muddiness around the cave entrance.
Why we’re all rooting for the Cinderella story*
- It’s about bravery, teamwork, and a splash of triumph.
- It’s about those mud‑slick fields where Fred & Ginger (the farmer’s nickname) watch hope hatch from a hopeful wilt.
- And it’s about us feeling like we can brag to our friends about “I watched the rescue of a boy in a Thai cave and saw $50,000 worth of water moved!”
*No formal medals were awarded, but everyone gets a high five and a proud grin.
When a Thai Farmer Turns into an Unintentional Hydroponic Pioneer
In the wake of the Tham Luang cave rescue, Thai farmer Lek Lapdaungpoin and his wife, Koung, find themselves drenched up to their ankles. Their 50‑acre plot, once a bustling hub of crops and free‑roaming ducks, has been swamped by the very water that was meant to save lives.
Who’s the Hero?
Lek is one of dozens of local volunteers who dove headfirst into the rescue effort. He’s less a “cave hero” and more a grumpy farmer turned emergency responder, offering his backyard’s shelter and real‑world experience to help calm the chaos.
Real Life: Ducks, Ducks, Ducks
- 100 ducks went missing, either dead or swimming far from home.
- The pond that fed the layer honks is now a flood‑filled mumble.
- Koung’s reassurance? “We’re more concerned about the people than the feathered casualties.”
The Foolish Flip‑Flop of Flood Water
Chiang Rai’s governor, Narongsak Osotthanakorn, announced that some enthusiastic but unregistered volunteers inadvertently pumped water back toward the cave itself – a head‑long wrong turn in an already challenging rescue.
Time‑Crunching Tactics
- Rescuers are drilling new passages through the limestone, hoping to open fresh escape routes.
- They’re racing against a looming monsoon that may bring heavy rains again Friday.
- Some cave sections are down to waist‑high water thanks to an otherwise perfect weather patch, but that window is slipping away.
Inspiration, It’s All About the “Can‑Do” Spirit
King Maha Vajiralongkorn took to a rare letter, applauding the “dedication and sacrifice” of Thai people. The story of the boys vanishing in the cave and the collective response reinforces a national can‑do vibe that extends even to flooded farms.
