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‘I can’t believe this day has come’

BANGKOK — As the news of the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej filtered out, large crowds erupted in mourning outside Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, where the ailing monarch had spent most of the last two years. Many of them were wailing and sobbing.

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BANGKOK — As the news of the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej filtered out, large crowds erupted in mourning outside Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, where the ailing monarch had spent most of the last two years. Many of them were wailing and sobbing.

Most held pictures of the King and wore yellow or pink clothes in his honour.

“How will Thailand live without you, father?” cried one distressed young man as others chanted “Long Live the King!”

Ms Parichart Kaewsin, 35, who works in a bank, stood at the edge of the hospital garden, gazing up at the top floor of the building where the King was treated.

“I knew he was sick but I still can’t believe this day has come,” she said, holding back tears. “That’s why I came here — to hear for myself.” She said it was like a member of her family had died. “He was like our dad.”

A few hours after the announcement of the King’s death, many despairing Thais remained at the hospital to mourn, with some holding candles and singing in his memory.

Some refused to accept the news.

“I believe in miracles. I shout so that both the King and the angel of death will hear me and let him come back to us. He wants to be with us. He said he would stay until he was 120 years old,” said Sukrit Thanaboonsombat, 46.

In the Sukhumvit commercial district of the capital, office worker Patcharatida Jamsrijun said his “heart sank” upon hearing the news.

Humanitarian worker Gaewkarn Fuangtong was sobbing. “I lost one of the most important people in my life,” she said. “I feel like I haven’t done enough for him. I should have done more. I will do good, do better for his sake.’’

Members of the National Legislative Assembly observed a nine-minute silence during a special late night session in tribute to the King.

In Singapore, Thais also received the news with much grief. At Golden Mile Complex — a popular haunt for Thais working in Singapore — Mrs Cattleeya Koh, 51, said: “He is like Mr Lee Kuan Yew to Singaporeans and has contributed a lot to the country.”

Mrs Koh, who has been living in Singapore for 26 years and runs a provision store at the complex, teared up as she spoke about the King.

Ms Phompan Duangrudee, who is the owner of Nana Thai Food, said she was still trying to come to terms with the King’s death. “I’m very sad. He loved every one of us in Thailand and helped many people,” added Ms Phompan.

A shop assistant at Khong Mang Minimart, Ms Nitaya Insuwan, 55, said a few of her friends would have liked to return to Thailand to pay their last respects to the King, but they were unable to do so because of work commitments.

Ms Dudsadee Nantasit, 31, who is on holiday in Singapore, offered a prayer for the King at a shrine outside Golden Mile Complex.

The teacher said she heard the news after she landed. “I knew that he was sick, but I didn’t know he would pass away so quickly,” she said. AGENCIES, WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SIAU MING EN

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