‘The walls shook’: Southern Thailand blasts send a scare across the border into Pasir Mas

PASIR MAS, Aug 23 — The sound of explosions from a string of bomb attacks in southern Thailand last night was strong enough to rattle homes and unsettle residents as far as Pasir Mas, Kelantan, across the border.

Residents in Rantau Panjang and Pengkalan Kubor said the blasts were not only heard near the border but also in parts of Pasir Mas, Harian Metro reported.

Azman Ayub, 40, from Kampung Tanjong, said he was at home when a loud blast suddenly shook the walls of his house.

“I was startled because I thought it was a loud lightning strike that made the walls shake, but shortly after that, people were saying that the explosion had happened in Sungai Golok town.

“Although this is not the first time we have heard such explosions because our homes are close to the border, every time the sound of a bomb is heard, it frightens my family and me,” he was quoted as saying.

“Whenever there is a bomb explosion in Sungai Golok town or Tak Bai, the sound can be heard and even felt at my home,” he added.

Faridah Osman, 53, from Kampung Banggol Chicha, Pasir Mas, also said the blasts could be heard from her home.

“At first, I thought it was thunder when I heard the sound three times, but afterwards I saw on social media that the sound was from bombs in southern Thailand and could also be heard around Pasir Mas town.

“I think this is the first time the sound has reached Pasir Mas, and I have been following developments in southern Thailand through social media,” she was quoted as saying.

“I had planned to go to Thailand for a holiday in the near future, but the situation that occurred has caused me to postpone the trip with my family,” she added.

The blasts were reported almost simultaneously from about 8.15pm across at least 12 locations in Thailand’s southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, with incidents involving explosions, burning tyres and vehicles, as well as attacks on public facilities and business premises, Harian Metro reported in a separate news article.

Narathiwat reportedly recorded the most incidents, followed by Yala and Pattani, prompting Thai security forces to step up patrols and close several areas for checks, including parts of Sungai Kolok and Tak Bai in Narathiwat.

Authorities are still assessing the extent of the damage and whether there were any casualties, while investigations are under way to establish the full circumstances of the attacks and identify those responsible.