Water to be drained to resume search for Thai football team and coach who have been in flooded cave for four days.

Rescuers have begun pumping muddy water from a Thai cave so divers can resume the search for 12 boys and their football coach who have been trapped by flooding in the 8km cave system since Saturday.

Heavy rain on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning forced the retreat of rescuers who had advanced 3km into the cave and found hand and footprints.

Thailand‘s Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda told reporters that the recent rain had filled some cavities to the ceiling, preventing SEAL diving teams from seeing where they were going, even with lights.

He said the teams could resume the search safely once they pumped out enough water to allow airenter the cave during the June to October monsoon season the boys visited after a practice game, leaving bikes and shoes which remained at the entrance.

Tourists have been rescued after several days trapped in the cave before and Chiang Rai Deputy Governor Passakorn Bunyalak has said officials still believe the boys could have found higher ground further within the massive cave.