Six dive specialists from the Australian Federal Police are already assisting the Royal Thai Navy.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says those numbers will be bolstered by two Australian Defence Force disaster recovery experts and another senior AFP officer.
The boys, aged 11-16, and their 25-year-old coach disappeared after they went exploring in the cave in northern Chiang Rai province on June 23.
Thai Navy officer and rescuers work inside a cave complex during the ongoing rescue operations for the child soccer team and their assistant coach. Source: Supplied
The team became trapped inside when heavy rains flooded the cave, but were found by rescue divers late on Monday night.
The desperate search has drawn assistance from experts around the globe, including six dive specialists from the Australian Federal Police.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said that number would be bolstered by the two Australian Defence Force disaster recovery experts.
"We're also sending more Federal Police specialists," Ms Bishop said.
"We're also providing crisis rescue support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, we now have about 11 or more people assisting in this very critical rescue."
She said the rescue is reaching a "very critical stage".
"At this point, the Thai navy divers have provided the boys and their coach with food and water and medicines," she said. "However, it's still not known how they'll actually be able to recover them."
Australian Federal Police and Defence Force personnel talk to a Thai rescuer. Source: AAP
Rescuers vow to take 'no risks'
Thai rescuers vowed to take a "no risk" approach to freeing 12 boys and their football coach from a flooded cave.
The navy has raised the possibility that the 13 could be in the Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province until the flood waters recede, at the end of the rainy season in four months.
But others say the boys could be out in a matter of days if the weather is on their side and water can be pumped out of the cave complex, and if they can be taught to use scuba gear.
Kobchai Boonarana, deputy director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation department, said it was up to the rescue team in the cave to decide whether and when the boys would be strong enough to tackle the journey out.
“Their conditions, we can see that their morale is good but what about their strength and their ability? That’s up to the team inside to decide,” Kobchai told reporters on Thursday.
Thai soldiers carry equipment inside a cave complex during the ongoing rescue operations. Source: THAI NAVY SEAL
“Our job is to keep pumping out water and it is up to the team inside to assess the safety level and whether the kids can travel safely through,” he said.
The group are being taught how to use diving masks and breathing apparatus, but from the safety of the muddy bank which for now remains their sanctuary.
Some relatives of the boys gathered near the cave early on Thursday, where a few rescuers were marching up to its entrance, a contrast to days of frantic activity during a search that has grabbed media attention around the world.
One mother said she had still not been able to contact her boy.
“We can’t send them messages yet,” said Ratdao Chantrapul, 37, the mother of 14-year-old Prajak Sutham.
“Yesterday, they tried to take in mobile phones but the bag it was in broke,” she said.
- with agencies
