The Thai Consulate General in Los Angeles was informed on Wednesday of the latest update, which contradicted an earlier report that efforts to reach the car could take a month due to the strong river current and geographical conditions.

There is an extra urgency to retrieve the car amid fears that it could be swept away by the river current.

Postgraduate students Thiwadee Sangsuriyarit, 24, and Bhakapon Chairatanatongporn, 28, of South Florida University went missing late last month as they were driving on a highway towards Kings Canyon National Park in California.

Thai Consul General Tanee Sangrat on Wednesday met with Highway Patrol officers and inspected the area on the highway where the car apparently went off the road and plunged over the cliff.

The Consulate General’s Facebook page published a photo gallery showing Tanee’s visit to the highway, including photos showing damaged highway barriers.