Missing Thai Boys: Divers advance deeper into flooded cave

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02:19

We turn to Thailand. The effort to locate the 12 boys and their football coach, now missing for a week, has picked up pace, as a break in the rain eased flooding. More experts from around the world, including two Chinese teams, also joined the rescue mission. CGTN's Martin Lowe reports.

For the families of the missing boys the agonizing wait goes on. They're gathered at the cave entrance to support each other, whatever the outcome of this massive rescue attempt. A number of specialist teams from China are on site, as well as others from around the world.

JAMES WANG GREENBOAT EMERGENCY ORGANIZATION FROM BEIJING "We are skilled at cave rescue and SRT – single rope technology – so I think in this environment we can do something for the children."

Another Chinese team has brought underwater drones and 3D imaging, though so far the floodwater has been too murky for it to be effective.

It's now been more than a week since the 12 young footballers - aged between 11 and 16 - and their coach disappeared inside the Tham Luang cave complex in northern Thailand.

Monsoon rains have flooded the entrance to the 10-kilometer network, sealing off the only way in or out.

The rescue effort has three strands: divers are trying to swim through the flooded caves to search for the lost boys; soldiers are looking for fissures which may provide more ways in to the complex and engineers are pumping out millions of gallons of water.

MARTIN LOWE THAM LUANG CAVES, THAILAND "While hope remains high with every passing hour the situation becomes more desperate and there is a growing concern that time may be running out."

The boys are thought to have only light clothing - maybe shorts and t-shirts - and it's cold inside the caves. They're not known to have any food. If the boys can be rescued they'll be immediately rushed by ambulance to a fleet of waiting helicopters to take them to hospital. They've been practicing the evacuation to determine the fastest routes. Martin Lowe CGTN Chiang Rai, Thailand.