As the rescue operation for 12 missing boys aged 11-16 and their coach continues in Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai's Mai Sai district, schools have been organising mass prayers, observing a minute's silence and even folding origami cranes as the nation unites in its hope of a happy ending despite the declining odds.
More than 3,000 students and teachers at Buriram Pittayakhom School in Buri Ram attended a mass prayer and meditation session yesterday morning to send their blessings and pray for good fortune so the boys are returned safely to their families.
At the end of the session they chanted: "Never give up, Moo Pa". Moo Pa, the name of the amateur football team, translates into English as "The Wild Boars".
"Our thoughts are also with the families of the 13 people," said school director Pannathat Wiwatchai.
Malika Singhaphirakul and Thidaphon Yomakul, both Matthayom 6 students, said they believed all 13 would be saved -- somehow.
The team is believed to have been trapped somewhere inside a partially flooded 10-kilometre-long cave complex without food since Saturday afternoon as heavy rain continues to hamper efforts to locate and retrieve them.
In Nakhon Ratchasima, governor Wichian Chantharanothai said the province had ordered a survey of various caves in Pak Chong district that are similar to Chiang Rai's Tham Luang cave but not as long, as a precautionary measure to preempt similar mishaps.
Meanwhile, a group of Matthayom 5 and 6 Japanese programme students at Chalermkwansatree School in Phitsanulok were busy folding 1,000 origami paper cranes -- known as orizuru -- to express their wishes for the boys' safety and successful rescue.
This is a popular custom in Japanese culture when wishing for a sick patient to recover, said Chanya Hunsanong, a member of the group.
She said before the paper cranes are hung on pieces on bamboo, other students will be invited to write messages of support on their.
In Uthai Thani province, north of Bangkok, close to 2,000 students and teachers at Uthai Thanmanuwat School in Nong Chang district observed a moment of silence and wished for good luck on behalf of the 13 trapped people.
In Krabi, provincial governor Kitibodi Prawit and Asnawi Mukhura, president of the provincial Islamic committee, led a similar event.
Elsewhere in the province, over 800 staff and students at Anuban Lamthap School took part in another prayer and meditation session, while 1,180 people engaged in meditation rites at Kathu Witthaya School in Phuket.
A similar event took place in Pathum Thani's City Hall led by governor Phinit Bunloet.
