Maruding Suni was pronounced dead at a hospital while the reporter, Santhiti Koejitmet, suffered injuries at her head, torso and leg.

The two victims were travelling with a group of security officers to a kindergarten in Narathiwat's Bajoh district that was torched on Monday night. The explosive went off at about 8.20am.

Doctors said x-ray test showed that Santhiti's condition is safe but advised her to remain in the hospital for a couple of days.

Investigation at the scene showed that suspected militants planted a five-kilograme bomb in the middle of the road near the entrance leading to the kindergarten. Their intention was to assault security officers who would go to the scene to investigate the attack, police said.

Roadside bombings, followed by brief gunfight, is almost a daily occurrences in the deep south where about 2,000 people have been killed since January 2004.

Authorities blamed a new generation of militants bent on separating the Malay-speaking region from the Thai state.

Watch video clip of the aftermath of a bomb incident