Witness to Bangkok blast aftermath: Bodies were mainly inside Erawan Shrine

Jussi Pajala was on the scene of this evening’s deadly explosion at Rajaprasong intesection in Bangkok shortly after it happened.

When the 34-year-old Finnish national arrived, there was debris and broken glass around the shrine.

“I was eating at Pratunam when I heard the explosion. It sounded like a normal transformer explosion. I didn’t think anything about it,” said Pajala.

“After five or six minutes I arrived here. They had stopped the traffic.  There were a few tourists whose legs were bleeding. I saw some smoke. When I arrived at the intersection I realized that it must be a bomb. There were some pieces of flesh and brain on the road. But the bodies are mainly inside the shrine.”

Pajala is referring to Erawan Shrine a Hindu shrine worshipped by Thai Buddhists at Rajaprasong Intersection next to the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel.

The death toll from the explosion – which authorities said was a bomb – has risen to at least 12, with at least 80 injured.

Photo: Jussi Pajala

Related: 

Rajaprasong explosion death toll rises to at least 12

Bomb rocks Bangkok’s Rajaprasong intersection, several killed

Header photo from a rescue worker who responded to the explosions.

Reporting by Alexander Hotz and Katrina Kaufman

Correction: Erawan Shrine is Hindu, not Buddhist, although it is worshipped by Buddhist Thais. We apologize for the error.