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.
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