BANGKOK – The coach of the young Thai football team that captured the world’s attention when they spent nearly three weeks trapped in a cave has found himself in another watery predicament – stuck on his roof because of flash floods.

Mr Ekapol Jantawong told Agence France-Presse on Sept 11 that he was drawing on his 2018 experience with the “Wild Boars” team to get through his latest ordeal at his home in the northern Thai district of Mae Sai.

Days of torrential rain brought by Typhoon Yagi have triggered deadly flash floods and landslides in northern Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar.

The flood waters rose suddenly in Mr Ekapol’s village early on the morning of Sept 10, leaving him and his family no time to escape, he told AFP by phone.

The waters kept rising, eventually forcing him onto the roof of his house, where he spent the night of Sept 10 along with his girlfriend and her aunt.

“I was scared but I told myself I have to be calm. Wait and assess the situation,” he said.

The waters have gone down, allowing him to reach the ground floor of the house, but they cannot leave because the current outside is still too strong, he said.

Mr Ekapol and his football team in 2018 were trapped by flash floods in the Tham Luang cave complex, and they emerged to global acclaim after a daring international rescue operation.

He said the cave experience taught him lessons he could apply in his latest predicament.

“I do not think it is different. First, we have to focus and start solving the problem we are facing,” he said. “I do not feel more pressure with this stranding. I see more of a way out.”

When asked if he could imagine having a third such experience, Mr Ekapol laughed and said: “It’s hard to say. We can’t say what will be, but I hope I don’t have to go up on the roof again tonight.” AFP