Authorities in Thailand have confirmed that operations to rescue 12 boys and their football coach from a cave have been stepped up in anticipation of adverse weather conditions.
The attempts to rescue the boys and their coach come as the group have been left stranded about half a mile beneath the earth’s surface for almost 12 days.
According to reports in Thailand the state’s interior minister has stated that attempts to rescue the group must be stepped up as heavy rainfall is expected in the coming days.
Attempts to rescue the group have been hampered significantly after it was revealed that some of the young boys cannot swim.
Specialist British divers who successfully located the group on Monday, say the 12 boys and their coach must dive though deep water in order to have any chance escape from the cave alive.
Although the specialist divers have been working to train the boys, it is feared that they may not have enough time as waters will continue to rise due to torrential rainfall in the region.
Experienced divers say they hope to teach months of training to the boys in just a matter of days. However despite the difficult challenges ahead authorities in Thailand say they are hopeful the boys and their coach can be rescued safely as their fitness levels are more adequate than most.
Meanwhile it has also been reported that if the coach makes it out of the cave alive, he could face legal action for leading the boys down the cave.