The young football team, made up of 12 boys aged between 11 and 16, and their coach who were missing on Saturday 23 June, were found on Monday night after a nine-day round-the-clock search involving international teams of divers.
Footage of the group, shot by the British divers who reached them first, showed the boys and their coach huddled on a ledge surrounded by water. They said they were hungry and asked what day it was and if they could leave.
Officials are sending in divers to secure the location where the boys and their coach are currently trapped by high water levels.
A rescue diver has said the boys were very weak, but alive.
Divers will stay with the group while they wait to be extracted and will use the time to teach them how to use scuba gear, to aid with their eventual rescue.
The Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osottanakorn told reporters they were looking at all options, but “I don’t think they will be home soon.
Thai prime minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, wished the group a “safe and speedy recover” and thanked the rescuers, including the foreign teams who have flocked from Australia, Japan, the US and Britain to help with the search.
More than 1,000 people have already been involved in the operation, including teams from China, Myanmar, Laos, Australia and the US, as well as Britain.
