Car bomb suspected in Hat Yai hotel

Songkhla Governor Krissada Boonraj did not confirm if the explosion was caused by a car bomb, as no bomb parts were found even though many cars parked inside the basement were seriously damaged. He said he would wait for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialists to inspect the scene and decide what caused the blast.

The death toll at press time yesterday, the governor confirmed that two men and a woman had been killed but he did not name the victims or give any further information. 

There were reports that one of the men killed was burnt to death in the hotel basement. Some of the victims were suspected to have died of smoke inhalation. Meanwhile, the injured were taken to five hospitals nearby. Eightyseven of them were rushed to Hat Yai Hospital, 132 to Songklanagarind Hospital, 52 to Rajyindee Hospital, 29 to Bangkok Hospital Hat Yai and 26 to Sikarin Hat Yai Hospital.

Hat Yai Hospital director Dr Kuldej Techanaparukse said most of the patients sent to the hospital suffered from smoke inhalation and were wounded as they fell while they ran to survive. Around 27 of 87 patients had not been discharged. 

At around 1pm, the bomb exploded at the building, which is the hotel and a shopping complex.

Initial reports said that the big fire engulfed after a gas explosion at a fast food restaurant inside the building, and later authorities suspected if it was caused by the car bomb.

It took four hours to extinguish the fire.

Hat Yai Municipality Mayor Prai Pattano said he suspected the fire was caused by a car bomb. He said tourists and locals in the building were already evacuated to safe places, but the area was sealed for safety pending engineer inspection as the building might be cracked from bomb impact.

A press conference due to be held at 5pm yesterday to reveal details of the Songkran festivities in Songkhla was cancelled.