Retired official Srivilai Krachaiwong, 60, said she was queuing to withdraw money from Krung Thai Bank's Siroros branch in Muang district when she heard the announcement from the bank warning customers to leave.

"Immediately, I ran out of the bank, but the building was packed because it was pay day,'' she said.

Some people were injured as the crowd headed for the exit. "I cannot explain the feeling. I felt like I was near death. I was horrified because I did not know how many bomb attacks there had been,'' Srivilai said.

She said she was running with two of her friends, one of whom almost fainted from the fear.

Yattinant Kaewngam, 24, of Muang district, said he was riding a motorcycle to do some business at Krung Thai Bank's Yala branch when he suddenly heard a powerful explosion and he decided to speed away from the scene.

After the attacks, the atmosphere in Yala became very tense. Although the situation was under control, people felt unsafe, he said. "We will not leave home unnecessarily and if we have to we will just have to be extra-careful," he said.