Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej died on Thursday, said the royal palace in a statement. He was 88. 
"At 15:52 (0852 GMT) he died at Siriraj Hospital peacefully," the Royal Household Bureau said. 
King Bhumibol was the world’s longest-reigning monarch, reigning over the country for 70 years. 
The Thai king had spent much of the past year at Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital, where he was treated for various ailments. A palace statement on Wednesday said that the king's blood pressure had dropped, his pulse had quickened, his liver was not functioning normally, and a blood test showed signs of infection. 
King Bhumibol leaves his wife Queen Sirikit, 84, as well as a son, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, and three daughters, Princess Ubol Ratana, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Princess Chulabhorn Walailak. 
Livestreamed scenes outside the hospital showed people crying with pictures of the king. 
The country will be set for a long period of mourning, typically 100 days. 
(AFP)