At least four dead as Thailand rocked by eight blasts

Bangkok: At least four people have been killed in eight bomb blasts that have hit across Thailand in the past 24 hours, in the resort town of Hua Hin and southern provinces, authorities said.

The explosions took place 30 minutes apart in the bar district of the popular beach town, the latest incident to threaten Thailand's reputation as a holidaymaker's paradise.

Small blasts are common in Thailand during times of heightened political tension, but there have been few such incidents in the past year and it is rare for tourists - a key source of income for the kingdom - to be targeted.

Officials said they were looking into motivations behind the latest blasts, which hit around after 10 pm local time.