MAE SAI, Thailand -- People around the world are celebrating after a group of boys and their soccer coach were found alive in a flooded Thailand cave, but getting them out will be challenging over the next few days.
- Cave approximately half a mile deep
- Heavy rain is expected
- Soccer team may have to dive out of cave
- SEE BELOW: Watch the children being rescued by the Thai Navy SEAL ▼
This viral video of the team found perched on a rock shelf of a deep cave is just the news the world was hoping for, after 10 days of searching.
The Thai Navy Seals released the first images of the boys, all alive.
"How many of you?" asked one of the rescuers, to which the boys answered "13."
"Thirteen, brilliant!" said the rescuer. "We are coming, many people are coming. Many people -- we are the first."
People all over Thailand and around the world are celebrating, but this is not even close to being over.
Now rescuers have to devise a plan to get the team of 12 boys between the ages of 12 and 16 along with their coach out of the deep cave.
They are somewhere around one to two miles into the cave and about half a mile deep.
One challenge is the water.
It is monsoon season in Thailand and heavy rain is expected in coming days.
One option would be to just wait it out until the water levels go back down. This could take days, weeks, or even months. In the meantime, rescue workers are sending food and other supplies to keep the boys in good health and comfortable.
The British Cave Rescue Council says there is also a possibility of drilling another entrance into the cave, but the area they are in is very small, so that is not an easy task.
Diving out?
The last resort would be having them dive out of the cave that even experts found difficult to navigate.
Tampa Bay cave diving expert Brett Hemphill called that option "almost impossible."
"I mean absolutely zero visibility," Hemphill explained. "You're talking about an experienced cave diver on a line in zero visibility with a child who's trying to maintain their composure, possibly under his arm, grabbing on to the back of his legs swimming. So you're beginning to see that logistically it's almost impossible."
Hemphill, who has performed numerous recoveries from deadly cave diving incidents, also said the children need medical attention before they can be moved.
They're already being taught how to dive in case that becomes the only option.