Australian travellers in or heading to Thailand have been advised to ‘exercise a high degree of caution’ after a car bomb went off in front of a mall on resort island Koh Samui.
Seven people were injured in the explosion, which came a day after a fire broke out on a Thailand ferry carrying 117 travellers.
The bomb was packed inside a Mazda pick-up truck with false place numbers and parked in front of the Central Festival mall, which was busy with late-night shoppers inside.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Tourism (DFAT) said Australians should keep clear of the affected area and monitor media and other sources for information.
“We continue to advise Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in Thailand overall.”
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Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports said so far the bomb hasn’t impacted tourism to the destination, with no foreign tourists cancelling their trips.
Security at hotels in Koh Samui has been increased.
Thailand’s Tourism Authority Worries about Koh Samui’s Image http://t.co/trEt6hNofP via @Easy_Branches #easybranches pic.twitter.com/aX9AZyJd2p
— Phuket Daily News (@PhuketDailyNews) April 12, 2015
During the first three months of 2015, Thailand’s tourism industry increased 23 percent.
Australia is the country’s tenth largest market, with some 835,517 arrivals last year.
Police say the car the bomb had been stolen from was stolen late last month from Yala.
“It’s a car bomb but we cannot confirm what type of explosive materials they used.”
Lieutenant-General Prawut Thavornsiri, Thai National Police spokesperson told AFP
Meanwhile, last week a Thailand ferry carrying 117 passengers went up in flames while travelling from Krabi to Phuket.
A 12-year-old girl was confirmed as the only fatality, while other passengers were rescued from the sea by nearby boats.
According to rescue operators, the fire erupted in the engine room at the back of the ship, close to where the bathroom was located.
There were up to 117 people onboard the Ao Nang Princess, a majority of which are believed to have been tourists.
