The operation to free 12 boys and their coach trapped in a cave in northern Thailand is running "smoothly", the head of the operation says.

泰国洞穴救援行动的负责人表示，营救被困泰国北部洞穴中的12名男孩及其教练的行动正在“顺利”进行中。

Four boys have been brought above ground so far in good health, rescuers say.

救援人员说，截至目前，已有四名男孩被救出，他们都健康无恙。

The mission has now been paused for at least 10 hours as air tanks need to be replaced.

由于需要更换空气罐，救援任务现已暂停了至少10个小时。

Rescuers decided to go ahead with the hazardous operation on Sunday because of fears of rising waters.

但救援人员担心水位会持续上升，决定在周日开展危险的救援行动。

The next phase would begin on Monday morning, after relaying "all of the air tanks and all systems along the way", Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osottanakorn said.

清莱省长Narongsak Osottanakorn表示，继“沿途所有的空气罐和所有系统”部署完毕后，下一阶段的工作将于周一早上展开。

He corrected earlier reports that said six boys had been freed.

他纠正了之前有关六名男孩被救出的报道。

Divers have been guiding the boys through darkness and submerged passageways towards the mouth of the Tham Luang cave system. They have reportedly been able to make the last part on foot.

潜水员引导着男孩们穿过黑暗和被水淹没的通道，前往Tham Luang洞穴的出口。据报道，他们能够徒步走完最后一段路。

Rescuers took advantage of a break in the rain to launch the mission much earlier than originally expected.

救援人员利用雨停的间歇，比预期更早地开展了任务。

The first phase has also been conducted much faster than officials had predicted.

第一阶段也比官方预测的要快得多。

The group and their families had all given their agreement that they should be moved as soon as possible, said Mr Narongsak.

Narongsak先生说，被困成员及其家属均已同意应尽快离开洞穴。

A team of 90 expert divers - 40 from Thailand and 50 from overseas - has been working in the cave system.

由90名专业潜水员组成的团队 - 其中40名来自泰国，50名来自海外 - 一直在该洞穴系统中工作。

Getting to and from where the boys are has been an exhausting round trip, even for the experienced divers.

即使对于经验丰富的潜水员来说，往返于地面和男孩们的被困之地也足以令人筋疲力尽。

The process includes a mixture of walking, wading, climbing and diving along guide ropes already in place.

该过程包括步行，涉水，攀爬和沿着已经到位的导绳潜水。

Wearing full-face masks, which are easier for novice divers than traditional respirators, each boy is being accompanied by two divers, who also carry his air supply.

每名男孩都戴着全面罩，并在两名潜水员陪同下出洞。对于新手潜水员来说，这种面具比传统的呼吸器更易使用，他们的氧气罐也由潜水员来携带。