'Most peaceful town in far South' targeted, as pick-up explodes near hotel; two killed, three seriously hurt

A car bomb exploded in Betong district in Yala yesterday evening, killing at least two people and wounding 34 others, three of them seriously.

The explosion also set nearby buildings on fire and caused major property damage.

Areas near the Holiday Hill Betong hotel, where the pick-up with the bomb was parked, were sealed off by security officials, who were still looking for more explosives possibly hidden nearby at press time yesterday.

The two killed were identified as Pennapa Tunhor, 23, and Decha Daliyoh, a man of unknown age.

Attacks were also carried out earlier yesterday in Pattani and Narathiwat. The

latter was allegedly the work of insurgents, but motives for the Pattani attack were not known. The attacks included the gunning down of a villager at around 2am yesterday in Pattani and a roadside bomb in Narathiwat that killed one member of an Army paramilitary ranger team on foot patrol and wounded three others.

National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha had called on state officials to keep a close eye on the situation, military spokesman Colonel Banphot Phoolphian said.

The attack in Betong was a surprise as it has been one of the most peaceful cities in the far South, bustling with visitors and Chinese business people. It is believed that the attackers were exploiting the transfer of the security chief, he said.

More here: Deadly car bomb hits Betong - The Nation