Twelve boys and their soccer coach who were found after more than a week deep inside a flooded cave in northern Thailand said they were in good health in video footage released by Thai navy SEALs.

The footage was released as a governor overseeing the rescue operation said it would be difficult to immediately extricate the group from the cave and indicated that they do not necessarily have to all leave together.


(Grab taken from video released by the Thai Navy SEAL)

The 12 boys, aged between 11 and 16, and their 25-year-old male coach went missing after entering the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Chiang Rai Province on June 23.

They were found some 10 kilometers inside the cave by two British rescue divers late Monday amid a frantic search effort by hundreds of rescuers and support personnel, which partly involved pumping water out of the cave.

The latest footage showed the boys, wrapped in so-called space blankets used in emergency situations to conserve body heat, undergoing health checks by a doctor.

As they were told the world is closely following news about their ordeal, one of the boys said to the camera, "Hello, my name is Tan. I am in good health."

Gaunt from lack of food but nevertheless in good spirits, the boys introduced themselves one by one and all said they were okay.

In other video footage, some were seen having their legs or feet being treated for minor injuries.

The boys are being given high-energy gel packs to drink until they are able to digest food without complications.

One rescuer said he was told that the group entered the cave with some snacks, intending to celebrate the birthday of one of the boys inside. After being trapped by rising water, the snacks were all consumed in the first three days.

With the cave still partially flooded, diving would be necessary under the main extraction plan now being considered. The SEALs, some of whom remain with the kids and their coach, are expected to provide lessons on how to dive.

Chiang Rai Gov. Narongsak Osottanakorn told a press conference Wednesday morning that he would not set a time frame for extraction as there are various factors to consider, including their readiness.

"No need to go out altogether. Whoever is ready, they can come out first," he said.


(Family members await news of the missing boys and their coach)

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha offered assurance Wednesday that the rescuers would extract the boys and coach from the cave as soon as possible, though he could not predict when.

He noted that diving is difficult as the route is a zigzag one and the extraction must be carried out one by one.

Prayut said rescuers are still looking for a hole through which they could access that part of the cave from above. Such a hole was found before the incident, but and if found again it would need to be drilled to make it wider, he said.

Meanwhile, water levels remain high in parts of the cave even as round-the-clock water drainage efforts continue.

Heavy rain this week in the area has raised concerns that water levels inside the cave may rise.