Bomb attacks kill 13, injure more 350 in South Thailand (VIDEO)

Three bomb blasts have struck the southern town of Yala, killing thirteen people and wounding dozens more, local officials say.

The first two bombs are thought to have been hidden inside motorcycles, while the third was planted in a nearby car.They detonated only minutes apart, damaging vehicles and setting the surrounding shops and buildings on fire.The public health ministry said 10 people were in critical condition with severe burns.Yala city is the main commercial hub in the country's south.  Thailand’s restive South is plagued by regular terrorist attacks and violence from Muslim extremist insurgent groups operating in the region.

Tough times for southern Thailand: hotel fire in same province kills 4, injures over 300

Meanwhile, at least four people died and more than 300 were injured in a hotel fire in the same province. The Lee Gardens hotel, located in southern Thailand’s biggest city Hat Yai, went up in flames in the middle of the night – reportedly following a gas tank explosion. The province's governor said 336 people were hospitalized, mostly with smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning, and many others were seriously wounded. Early reports said the fire might have been caused by a gas main explosion in the compound or from an insurgent attack, while security officials have yet to determine whether the incident was linked to the Yala bombings which occurred on the same day.