--- description: The blast occured in the middle of the Thai capital title: Explosion Rocks Bangkok image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt83c2ecb34020d8ee/69885f8f0b72e339ac6e5687/bagkok-explosion.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Thailand](/tag/thailand/) ## Thailand Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Explosion Rocks Central Bangkok by [Megan Gibson](/author/megan-gibson/) ## Megan Gibson Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 17, 2015 12:49 PM CUT  A policeman photographs debris from an explosion in central Bangkok, Thailand, on Aug. 17, 2015. A policeman photographs debris from an explosion in central Bangkok, Thailand, on Aug. 17, 2015.Mark Baker—AP by [Megan Gibson](/author/megan-gibson/) ## Megan Gibson Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 17, 2015 12:49 PM CUT An [explosion](http://time.com/4000300/bangkok-thailand-bombing/ "undefined") rocked a shrine in central Bangkok on Monday. The blast took place at the religious Erawan Shrine in the downtown district of the Thai capital. A [correspondent for the BBC](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-33963280 "undefined"), who was at the scene, reported that the blast appeared to have left people both dead and injured, and had caused much damage. Early local news sources reported that at least 16 people had been killed and 20 injured. At least two bombs were found at the explosion scene and at least one had detonated, a spokesman for Thailand’s ruling junta said, [according to the Associated Press](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS%5FTHAILAND%5FEXPLOSION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT "undefined"). The first bomb was found in the shine compound and the other was discovered farther away. The BBC also reported that a “crater” had appeared at the site of the explosion. The area where the explosion took place has been the location of several political demonstrations, [according to the AP](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS%5FTHAILAND%5FEXPLOSION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT "undefined"). The Erawan Shrine is a popular tourist landmark. **MORE:** [At Least 16 Dead in Bangkok Bombing](http://time.com/4000300/bangkok-thailand-bombing/ "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4000111/explosion-rocks-central-bangkok/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4000111/explosion-rocks-central-bangkok/"},"headline":"Explosion Rocks Central Bangkok","datePublished":"2015-08-17T12:49:31.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T10:13:18.713Z","description":"The blast occured in the middle of the Thai capital","url":"https://time.com/4000111/explosion-rocks-central-bangkok/","keywords":["Thailand"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt83c2ecb34020d8ee/69885f8f0b72e339ac6e5687/bagkok-explosion.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Megan Gibson","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/megan-gibson/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt83c2ecb34020d8ee/69885f8f0b72e339ac6e5687/bagkok-explosion.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"A policeman photographs debris from an explosion in central Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015. A large explosion rocked a central Bangkok intersection during the evening rush hour, killing at least three people and injuring 25 others, police said","caption":"A policeman photographs debris from an explosion in central Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015. A large explosion rocked a central Bangkok intersection during the evening rush hour, killing at least three people and injuring 25 others, police said.","creditText":"Mark Baker—AP","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/thailand/","name":"Thailand"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4000111/explosion-rocks-central-bangkok/","name":"Explosion Rocks Central Bangkok"}}]}] ```