The wait could be over for the group of 12 boys and their team coach who are trapped in a cave complex in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

At 10am local time (11am Singapore time) Sunday, July 8, the Thai rescue team commenced a large-scale operation to try and extract the group, who have been stuck there for 16 days now.

It is reported that going in pairs (two per boy), the rescue team of professional divers and Thai navy SEALs will help them to dive through the submerged parts of the cave complex, and then walk out after bypassing the flooded areas.

The Thai Navy SEAL Facebook page uploaded a photo of rescuers clasping hands in a show of camaraderie as they prepared for the difficult operation.

Five Thai Navy SEALs and 13 foreign divers will be involved in the operation.

According to former Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osottanakorn, the operation had to begin as soon as possible to avoid further complications from another possible rain storm.

Said Narongsak:

"A new storm is coming. If we wait, if it rains, we’ll have to continue pumping out the water again."

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The rescue efforts have been extremely tricky and risky. On Friday, July 6, an ex-Thai Navy SEAL diver died while delivering oxygen tanks to the trapped group:

World attention

The case has also attracted international attention, with billionaire tech maven Elon Musk offering his help.

Engineers from his SpaceX and Boring companies arrived in Thailand to lend assistance to the rescue effort.

Global football organisation FIFA has also offered free tickets to the boys to watch the final of World Cup 2018 if they are rescued in time and are healthy enough to travel.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino wrote a letter to the president of the Thai football association, offering his "deepest sympathies and support".

He added that the appearance of the boys at the final would "undoubtedly be a wonderful moment of communion and celebration."

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Top image adapted from pics from Thai NavySEAL's Facebook page.