Rescuers, including Australian Federal Police officers with cave diving experience and Thai Navy SEALS, are advancing inside a flooded cave in northern Thailand where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been missing for over a week.
Thai navy officials posted on Facebook early on Monday that the rescuers carrying ropes and extra oxygen have pushed through the murk of a kilometre-long passage to reach a bend where the tunnel splits in two directions.
The group are aiming for a sandy chamber, known as Pattaya Beach, high up in the cave within on which they hope the group have been able to shelter.
The AFP officers arrived at the site early on Sunday.
"We're here to support the Thai government in its operation," said Cameron Noble from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
"They (the police officers) have cave diving experience."
The Australian team has joined forces with 11 Chinese rescue experts, up to 32 US forces personnel, three British divers and a British cave expert as well as rescue teams from Myanmar and Laos who are already there.
The missing boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach entered Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Chiang Rai province on June 23. Heavy rains that flooded key passages are believed to have trapped the soccer players and have thwarted their rescue.
Rescuers have been stymied again and again by muddy water rising to the ceiling of the chamber, forcing them to withdraw for safety reasons.
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