A bomb rocked a bungalow complex on Koh Chang early yesterday, destroying part of the resort and shattering windows at a nearby hotel, but causing no injuries.

The bomb exploded at about 3am, resulting in extensive damage to an office, a mini-mart and a kitchen at Mac Bungalows, run by Sopon Chanderm, on Haad Sai Khao.

Mr Sopon had left the office with a French national shortly before the explosion.

Seventeen tourists were staying at the resort at the time of the blast, which shattered windows at Koh Chang Lagoon Hotel, owned by tambon administration organisation chairman Sanya Kerdmanee.

Mr Sopon dismissed a land dispute between local residents and the navy as a possible motive for the attack, saying the bomb may have been hidden among boxes of provisions delivered from the mainland on Friday, some of which remained unopened.

Meanwhile, Mr Sanya said his resort may have been the intended target of the bomb as he was in dispute with a firm that had failed to meet the deadline for the construction of a road, after which he had imposed daily fines of 10,000 baht.

A police investigator said the blast may have been caused by C-4 explosives.

Post On March 3, 2003