Thai rescuers are attempting to pump water out of the cave where a youth soccer team is trapped, according to officials (via ESPN).
Twelve boys, between the ages of 11 and 16, and their 25-year-old coach have been stuck in the cave since June 23. With more rain expected to roll into the region within the next couple of days, rescuers have been draining the water in parts of passage leading toward the cave where the team is located.
"What we worry most is the weather,'' Chiang Rai provincial Gov. Narongsak Osatanakorn told reporters. "We can't risk having the flood back into the cave.''
Thai navy SEALS have been working to teaching the boys how to dive and swim, but with rains possibly arriving Saturday, the rescue effort has increased.
Osatanakorn said not all 13 people may be rescued at once and that it will likely take several trips to get the entire team out. Officials are hoping that by draining the water in the passage, the team can make its way through with enough headroom between the ceiling and water level without having to rely on scuba gear.
The team was trapped after it was exploring the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in the northern province after a game. They were missing for 10 days before they were discovered.
The boys, although hungry and skinny, were deemed in stable condition and Thai SEALS have brought them provisions as they figured out the next step.
With the rains quickly approaching, officials will have to decide how to safely get them out if they can't drain the passage to the cave.
"Nobody will teach anyone a full cave course, but trying to get them comfortable with masks, with the breathing, [is] completely different,'' said Claus Rasmusen, a certified cave-diving instructor in Thailand who has been helping the rescue efforts. "Creating an environment that can make them safely get away — that's feasible.''
