Rescuers in northern Thailand ran Tuesday against time and an ominous monsoon season to clear a young football team trapped in a partially flooded cave. forecast heavy rains expected later this week.

Anupong Interior Minister Paojinda said that at least some of the players can not swim, further complicating the arduous task of rescue. He said that kids, ages 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach might need some scuba gear for some of their escape.

The Thai rainy season is at its peak and we can expect long periods of November showers. Water levels in the cave complex are expected to increase.

"The evacuation must accelerate," Anupong told the Bangkok Post. "The diving equipment will be used, if the water rises, the task will be difficult, we must take out the children before that date."

The team should move into the narrow parts of the cave by themselves. Anupong said:

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The rescuers found a Thai youth soccer team living in a cave after the 12 boys. and the coach has gone missing for more than a week.
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"Diving is not easy, those who have never done it will find it difficult because there are narrow passages in the cave," he said. Anupong. "They must be able to use diving equipment, if the equipment is lost at any time, it can be dangerous for life."

For more information: in the Caverns

For more: The US rescue team is looking for a missing Thai football team in a cave

The team ventured into the cave after playing football. A team of British and Thai divers, backed by an international rescue group, found the kids and their coach on Monday.

The video broadcast Tuesday morning showed the boys in their soccer uniform sitting in a dry place inside the cave. illuminated by a projector. The video, with pictures taken by the rescuers, fanned the spirits of families waiting for meetings at the main entrance of the cave

(Photo: ROYAL THAI ARMY via EPA-EFE)

Chiang Rai Provincial Governor Narongsak Osatanakorn said most boys are considered to be in a state stable. None was considered critical, he says.

Anupong said the Thai Navy SEALs, including medical experts, occupy the group. The hospital in Chiang Rai Prachanukroh said it has prepared a room where all 13 could be treated, with accommodation for 54 parents.

At one point the authorities considered providing them with food for months to wait for the rainy season. But Anupong said the latest plan is to release the team as soon as possible.

The team is located on an elevated area of ​​an aquatic cave about half a mile from the surface, more than a mile from the main entrance of the complex network of tunnels that make up the Tham Luang Caves in northern Thailand

The desperate search has caught the attention of the world and hundreds of rescuers have worked day and night to fight against heavy rains and floods . Massive pumps drained water from the cave sections, allowing rescuers to dig deep into a network of tunnels.

Last week, the US Pacific Command sent a 30-person rescue team to northern Thailand. a mother reported that her son had not returned from practice.

Teams from Britain, China, Australia and other countries joined the effort. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha thanked "all the international units that came to help the Thai authorities rescue the youth football team" … The Royal Thai Government and the Thai people are grateful for this support and this cooperation, "

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