The commander of the Navy SEAL, a special warfare unit playing a central role in the search for the missing 12 young footballers and their coach trapped in Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai, vowed this morning that the rescue mission will continue until they are all found.

Speaking to reporters at the daily briefing,  Rear Adm Arpakorn Yookongkaew said the SEAL team has now established a forward command at an area known as chamber 3 inside the cave. He estimated that the rescue team is now about 3 kilometres away from the so-called Pattaya Beach where the missing are believed to be taking refuge.

He said the SEAL team members will begin diving toward the target area today but admitted that there will be difficulties because of flooding.  “They will have to dive in darkness and having to carry a lot of equipment,” he said.   He added that the rescuers will take with them spare oxygen cylinders and foods for the stranded footballers.

“But you can be sure that we will not stop until we find them,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn said the water level inside the cave has been receding, making the rescue mission less difficult.  He also said that rescue teams have located two shafts that could provide possible entry into the cave but more explorations need to be made.