YALA: Four rangers were slightly injured in a bomb explosion in Bannang Sata district while on the way to a civic activity at a village on Sunday morning.
Police and members of an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit rushed to Ban Dalapae in tambon Khuan Banglang after learning of the explosion, which occurred at about 8.45am.
In the middle of the road between Sanam Bin and Dalapae villages, they found a slightly-damaged Nissan Navara pick-up belonging to Rangers Company 3310 next to a bomb crater about 1.5 metres deep and 1m in diameter.
Four rangers travelling in the pick-up were slightly injured, suffering from a ringing in the ears. They were identified as Cpl Anuchart Kamul, the team leader, and ranger volunteers Suphan Chaiboonkasem, Yongyuth Cheevkulsamphan and Sithiporn (last name not known).
The bomb was made from a gas cylinder, weighing about 20 kilogrammes, buried in a drainpipe laid under the road. A 100m-long electric wire was found stretching from the bomb into a wooded area beside the road.
The bomb was detonated as two armoured vehicles belonging to the rangers were passing by. The explosion damaged only the first vehicle.