Rescuers wade through a flooded Thai cave in search of a missing boys football team in June.

The 12 boys and their coach went inside the cavern in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand after finishing their training session.

But heavy rains caused sudden flash flooding, leaving them unable to escape the Luang Nang Non cave in the Mae Sai district of the remote northern region.

The boys were eventually rescued in July.

Rescuers wade through a flooded Thai cave today (Tue) in search of a football team that has been missing since Saturday.

The 12 boys and their coach went inside the cavern in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand after finishing their training session.

But heavy rains caused sudden flash flooding which left them unable to escape the Luang Nang Non cave in the Mae Sai district of the remote northern region.

Officials believe the group, pictured in stills on recent trips and inside the cave on an earlier visit, are still alive. However, their rescue efforts have been hampered by heavy rain.

''We are still optimistic they are all alive,'' Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said.

''Even though they may not have anything to eat, they should have water to drink.''

The group of boys aged between 11 and 16 and their coach can drink water from inside the cave but they did not take with them lasting food supplies on the trip.