KOTA BARU: The husband of the kindergarten teacher killed in the explosion in Yala province on Sunday said he recognised his wife's body based on a ring on her finger.
Muhamad Abka Samalai, 47, a labourer, said he discovered this at the emergency room of a hospital in Bannang Sata district.
He said he was working at a mosque when he heard a loud explosion about 10am (Thai time) coming from the area.
"I didn't expect anything bad to happen to my wife until my neighbour told he saw that he had seen my new motorcycle hit by the explosion. He then asked me who was driving the bike.
"Hearing this, my heart started beating faster. I called my wife's handphone many times but there was no answer."
Abka said he rushed to Bannang Sata Hospital. "I looked all over the hospital but couldn't find her. I asked a hospital employee, and he showed me a picture of a car hit by the bomb.
"When I saw the picture, I looked at the person lying on the ground in a pool of blood next to the car. I still had doubts whether it was my wife.
"The employee told me that there was a ring on the body. He asked me if I recognised it.
"My heart started pounding again when I followed him to his room. At that time, I could only pray for a miracle.
"After seeing the ring, I almost fainted."
The father of three said his wife Rokiyoh Sarana, 45, a kindergarten teacher at Kampung Lalae Mosque, was on her way to buy food to prepare meals for her students when the explosion happened.
"Before leaving for the shop, she called me, saying that she had helped to grate a coconut to make delicacies for the kids."
Abka said: "I did not know what to do next. I called my kids, and told them to calm down before telling them that mama is no longer with us.
"I feel her loss. I've been crying until now."
The couple have been married for 16 years.
In the incident, Rokiyoh was killed and 45 others injured when a car bomb exploded outside a police residential complex in Bannang Sata district, Yala province.
Thai police have arrested a 27-year-old man, a technical officer working for the municipal council, on suspicion of being involved in the incident.