A search for a missing teenage soccer team believed trapped in a cave complex in Thailand's northern province of Chiang Rai has entered its third day as concern grew for the welfare of the boys and their coach.
Teams from the Royal Thai Navy had halted search efforts late last night, saying oxygen levels were low in some parts of the complex in the Tham Luang-Khun Nam Nang Noon forest park in the province.
The 12 boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach,were believed to have been trapped by rising waters inside the cave network when heavy rain hit.
"We must find the children today. We have hope that they are living somewhere in there," provincial governor Narongsak Osottanakorn said, adding that each group drafted into the search would work its hardest to find the boys.
The boys' bicycles and soccer boots were found at the mouth of the Tham Luang caves after they went missing late on Saturday.
A 17-member unit of the Royal Thai Navy has been deployed to find them and underwater drones have joined the search.
So far, the team has searched about 6km of the 10km-long cave, a forest park spokesman said.
Visitors are usually only permitted to venture about 700m into the cave complex.
"Inside it is very dark ... and if it rains between July and December then we close it," the spokesman added. "This group went in further than allowed."
Worried relatives gathered at the cave entrance, many having camped overnight hoping for news.
Also among those waiting were three team mates who skipped Saturday's expedition to the cave after soccer practice, because their parents told them to come home, media said.
