Four boys among a group of 13 trapped in a flooded Thai cave for more than a fortnight were rescued on Sunday, authorities said, raising hopes elite divers would also quickly save the others.

13 foreign professional divers and 5 Thai Navy SEALs began the extremely dangerous operation at 10 Sunday morning, with some of the rescuers reaching the area where the team is sheltering. The youngsters were led out of the cave one at a time. 

The four boys have been brought out through an underwater evacuation and taken to a field hospital near the cave in Thailand's northern Chiang Rai Province by helicopters.