Thai Soccer Team Still Stuck in Cave, Storms in Forecast

Officials in Thailand are in a race against time to save 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped in a flooded cave. Bill Whitehouse with the British Cave Rescue Council tells the Today Show that it's important to try and get them out before another round of monsoons hit, which could happen within days. 

"Once the cave floods seriously again, with the amount of water going through and the current, and the visibility in the water, it may be that diving operations will become impossible like they were last week," said Whitehouse. 

The soccer team aged 11 to 16 and their 25-year-old coach have been trapped inside the cave since they entered it 11 days ago on June 23 after a practice session. The team was deep inside the cave when heavy rains battered the region, flooding it. An initial medical examination showed the boys to be in good health with some needing treatment for scrapes and mild rashes. 

Officials say none of the boys know how to swim, making rescue difficult. An international rescue effort has been launched to try and save the team with donations of food, water and diving masks have been sent to the location. Video taken from inside the cave showed the boys alive and well. 

Water is being pumped out of the cave while divers are working to seal holes in the cave to keep the water out. One plan to evacuate the boys is by having the teammates and their coach dive through the narrow, flooded tunnels in full-face diving masks, but debate remains over the best ways to bring them safely home. 

Photo: Getty Images