At least 12 people were killed and 87 were wounded in an explosion Monday near a Hindu shrine in central Bangkok, marking the worst bombing in the Thai capital in more than a decade.
The explosion around 7:00 p.m. local time hit near the commercial Ratchaprasong intersection, which draws in tourists and shoppers with its five-star hotels and upscale stores.
Heard the #BangkokBoom. Looked out 18th floor window and saw dark clouds so thought it most likely thunder. Hearing sirens now.
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) August 17, 2015Damage and injured around Erawan shrine
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) August 17, 2015"We have seen six bodies under sheets (near) the Erawan shrine," VOA correspondent Steve Herman said from the scene. One person was taken away in an ambulance.
At that time of the evening, there would be hundreds of people inside that shrine, Herman said.
Thai rescue workers transport an injured person after a bomb exploded outside a religious shrine in central Bangkok late on Aug. 17, 2015 killing at least 10 people and wounding scores more.
Surveilance cameras caught the moment of the explosion. Other video from the scene shows body parts strewn on the street and atop nearby cars.
WATCH: Surveillance video footage of Thai blast
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Surveillance Cameras Catch Moment of Thai Blast
A man who identified himself as a police officer at the site said a bomb caused the explosion, not a car crash as some media reports indicated.
A Thai soldier ropes off the scene after a bomb exploded outside a religious shrine in central Bangkok late on Aug. 17, 2015 killing at least 10 people and wounding scores more.
Motorcycles are strewn about after an explosion in Bangkok, Aug. 17, 2015.