Trapped Thai soccer team facing risky dive

In the five-minute navy video, the boys are quiet as they sit on their haunches, legs bent in front of them.

Narongsak, who had been the de facto spokesman for the rescue mission, also said that the next immediate plan would be to send doctors and some food to the location where the boys and their coach were found by the rescuers.

The country’s interior minister has said the evacuation “must speed up” before there is more rainfall, and added that the boys will be brought out in the coming days.

Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osottanakorn said the authorities were keen to get the boys out and suggested it might have to happen in phases, but only when safe.

“Taking them in the water would be extremely risky for the kids and the coach – but also for the rescuers”.

The world’s attention has been riveted to their story, which echoes the tale of the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped for 69 days almost a half-mile below the surface in 2010.

Journeying into the cave “was very taxing, especially with the emotional load of the lives of 12 young boys”, Mr Reymenants said.

The worldwide rescue operation – which includes the Thai Navy SEALs as well as experts from the US, China, Australia and the United Kingdom – had been working to reach a large, deep chamber, informally named Pattaya Beach, where they believed the missing boys had taken refuge.

Assistant government spokesman Colonel Athisit Chainuwat said the SEAL team was still with the boys and rescuers were trying to install lights, a power supply and get communications equipment to them.

Could they be dug out?

The only trace of them had been bicycles and soccer cleats found outside the entrance of the complex, and handprints along the cave walls.

But there is no indication that any of those chimneys connect to the chamber where the boys have been stranded. “You are very strong”, the diver responded.

Rescue personnel from the Australian Federal Police among the worldwide contingent involved in getting the boys out.

This is possibly the safest option.

It was believed that the monsoon rains had trapped them inside the Tham Luang cave network, in the south west region of Thailand.

If the current break in bad weather sticks, this option could be more promising. That could take as long as months, however, given that Thailand’s rainy season typically lasts through October.

Hard to say for sure.

“There are a few ideas to rescue them, some of them are longer and some are shorter”.

The Prime Minister’s Office says Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha “wishes to thank the tremendous efforts of all global units that have come to assist the Thai authorities in rescuing the youth football team that was stuck in the caves in Chiang Rai”.

The two divers who found the boys are from the United Kingdom.

The local military has dropped in food supplies to last for the next four months..

Are the boys even in the right mindset to move? God knows they’d want to revisit.

The teammates, who were trapped inside when heavy rains flooded the cave, were found by rescue divers late Monday night during a desperate search that drew assistance from experts around the globe.

However, the divers confirmed that it was far too unsafe to attempt to extract the team under the current conditions.

Areas of the cave remain submerged and navigating claustrophobic passages in murky rushing waters risks panic, even if the boys have ample equipment, expert support and a crash-course in how to dive.

Fortunately, they seem in pretty good shape, considering.

“Some of them can’t swim, so therefore it will take time for them to adjust”, he said.