Thai soccer team trapped in a cave could be there for months

Twelve Thai youth soccer team members trapped in a cave for more than a week have been found alive, but the boys and their coach could remain stuck for months before flooding recedes enough for them to be freed, Sky News reports.

The team became trapped on June 23 when flash floods hit while they were exploring the massive cave system; the group managed to survive by crowding onto a narrow ledge as the waters rose. The Thai military is considering sending at least four months worth of food to the team. The alternative is teaching the boys how to dive, but that poses its own risks. It took a group of cave diving experts days to reach the team, and many of the trapped boys are believed to not know how to swim, Axios reports.

"Although water levels have dropped, the diving conditions remain difficult and any attempt to dive the boys and their coach out will not be taken lightly because there are significant technical challenges and risks to consider," said the British Cave Rescue Council, which is assisting in the rescue.

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