Grief sweeps across crowd at Siriraj Hospital
October 14, 2016 11:20
By Juthathip Lucksanawong
The grief of thousands reverberated throughout the grounds of Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok yesterday evening following the news that His Majesty the King had died - a scene echoed nationwide.
After the official announcement of the King’s death from the Bureau of the Royal Household at around 7pm, the outpouring of grief at the hospital began, with many learning of his passing on social media. They shouted: “Long live the King”.
All day yesterday at the hospital, people sat on the ground around a monument of His Majesty the King’s father and wept. Some passed out. Nurses performed first aid.
The Office of the Prime Minister issued an instruction to government officials nationwide to wear black to mourn the King for one year and fly flags at half mast for 30 days.