Two bomb explosions have been reported in Songkhla province’s busy Hat Yai district, where five people were injured.

Witnesses said two bombs went off simultaneously in front of a local police flat on Petchkasem Road and in front of a 7-11 shop downtown. A car parked nearby has burst into flame from the blast.

Police rushed to inspect the crime scenes and said that around four to five people have been injured in the attack.

Roads near Khor Hong and Punnakan intersections have been sealed off as security forces search the area for more bombs.

In 2012, a series of car bombs have killed 13 people and injured more than 500 in Hat Yai, the largest city in southern Thailand and a popular destination for tourists from neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore.

Chiang Rai province is urging all sectors to assist victims from the earthquake especially in Mae Lao district and Phan district. So far it’s known that four houses totally collapsed in Mae Lao district. Reports to date say no one was wounded nor died.

Ajarn Chalermchai Kositpipat who built Wat Rong Khun has surveyed the damage that resulted from the earthquake and this morning’s aftershocks. Wat Rong Khun cannot be opened for visitors. The top of the Stupa at Wat Rong Khun fell off. Wall paintings were torn away and roof tiles fell off. Ajarn Chalermchai said there won’t be any reconstruction of this temple since he is far too old.

Meanwhile, the Chiang Rai Governor asks all sectors to assist as a matter of urgency and give aid to the victims. Moreover, Phan district has been declared a disaster area since it is situated at the quake’s epicentre.

Instructions during an earthquake:

1.If driving a vehicle, stop the car and remain inside until all the external shaking stops. Don’t panic.

2.If you are in high-level building, drop to the floor; take cover by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of solid furniture; and hold on until the shaking stops. 3

.If outside stay away from high rise buildings, any glass windows, outside doors and power posts; stay outdoors in an open area during the quake.

4.Remain calm and be aware of any debris. Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture. Once the shaking stops, leave the building immediately.

Army Lieutenant General Preecha Chan-ocha reports that military troops have been deployed to give assistance to disaster victims after an Earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck Chiang Rai’s Phan district on Monday night, and damaged hundreds of buildings in the district as well as in nearby provinces.

In the time since, more than 100 aftershocks have been detected in the wake of the earthquake. Many of those affected were forced to evacuate residential areas to look for greater safety.

Authorities have deployed 19 militia units, paramedic teams and military vehicles to help aid the victims. A command center has been located at Dong Mada District of Chiang Rai to liaise with the administrative office in Chiang Rai city.

The assistant director of the Bhumibol Dam in Tak Province has assured the public that the dam remains safe after the Chiang Rai earthquake.

Assistant Director Worawit Raveenipapong announced that dam officials were sent into the area to inspect the dam’s edges. Fortunately, they haven’t found anything amiss as yet, but are still gathering information to report to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT).

Mr. Worawit said that the dam wasn’t affected by the quake, as it is situated atop a granite rock and no fault lines from the earthquake had been detected. The dam is also 288 kilometers from the quake’s epicenter and was built to withstand a 7.5 magnitude earthquake.

Nonetheless, many local people have become doubtful about the strength of the dam, as they have witnessed firsthand the quake’s power of destruction.

The Constitution Court has announced that it will hand down a ruling by noon tomorrow (May 7th) regarding the unfair transfer of National Security Chief (NSC) Thawin Pliensri.

The case has been filed by a group of 40 senators, led by Mr. Paiboon Nititawan, who alleged that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had abused her power by removing the NSC chief from his position in order to benefit her own political party. Should she be found guilty, she could be removed from her office.

Meanwhile, the court has denied the premier’s petition to bring in Labor Minister Chalerm Yubumrung as her witness on the case, saying that the court already has collected enough evidence to finalize the verdict.

As of today (May 6th), the court has summoned four people to give testimonies on the case. The four are Prime Minister Yingluck, former National Police Chief and former NSC chief Wichien Potposi, Senator Paiboon Nititawan, and current NSC Chief Thawin Pliensri.

The Chinese government is preparing to establish a consulate to provide services for the two million Chinese tourists expected to travel to Phuket this year.

Miss Wang Huijian, as the new consul, today met with the Phuket Governor Mitree Inthusut, to discuss possible locations for the establishment of the Chinese consulate on the popular Thai holiday island.

Mr. Mitree said that Thai people have had a strong bond with the Chinese, as there have been many student exchange programs to allow these two nations to learn the cultures of their hometowns.

He also urged the Chinese consul to warn their tourists about the safety at beaches and strictly follow the warnings when taking ferries to other islands. In addition, they should regularly check the weather forecast during the monsoon season.

Last year, there were around 10.7 million Chinese tourists who have traveled to Thailand. Out of that number, about a million of them visited Phuket and that number is expected to double this year. Therefore, the consulate would protect the benefits of Chinese tourists and provide suggestions for Chinese tourists to travel safely in Thailand.

Many important archaeologist sites in Nan province have been damaged by an earthquake of 6 magnitude in Chiang Rai on Monday. The damage is reportedly worse than last year’s quake in Nan.

Mayor of the Nan Municipality Surapol Thiansut and officers from a local disaster prevention and mitigation office on Tuesday surveyed many important archaeological sites in the province for damage caused by the shake. Ancient Buddhist temple Wat Phumin has many cracks on the inside and outside of its Buddha image hall. The mayor said his team would urgently inspect other important places and closely monitor the quake situation.

Other slightly damaged archaeological sites include Wat Phrathat Chang Kham and Wat Phrathat Khao Noi located on a hilltop. People who live in a high-rise building in the province are warned to be more cautious due to a possible new round of earthquake.

The Fine Arts Department will also inspect the damaged archaeological sites in the Nan municipality area.

Seven earthquake-hit districts in the northern province of Chiang Rai have been declared as disaster zones. More than 100 aftershocks have damaged a number of residences, government buildings and other constructions.

Governor of Chiang Rai Pongsak Wangsamoe on Tuesday called a meeting on the earthquake and declared the seven districts as disaster zones, including Phan, Mae Lao, Pa Daet, some parts of Mae Saui, Mueang, Wiang Chai and Phaya Mengrai. The meeting also acknowledged the death of a 83-year-old woman who was killed by a wall collapse and 23 injuries. The governor instructed all districts to assess the damage before compensating the local people for their damaged houses.

Meanwhile, Director of the Chiang Rai dam project Prasop Srisaichua said the Mae Saui dam, which currently stored 42 million cubic meters of water, was still strong and was not affected by the earthquake.

Seventeen districts of Buriram Province have been declared storm-disaster zones as more than 1,600 houses have so far been savaged by summer storms.

Buriram has been hit by strong winds, causing the province to announce 17 districts disaster areas. According to provincial authorities, 333 villages in 80 sub-districts have been heavily affected by summer storms. The storms have also caused damages to more than 1,620 houses, temples, schools, rubber plantations, and a number of barns.

Since a storm first hit Buriram in March, no financial assistance from the central administration has been submitted to residents. However, the Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) has been using its own budget to purchase building materials and handing them out to the residents whose houses have been destroyed.

Furthermore, the Thai Red Cross and the Military District have been giving out relief packages in initial assistance.