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Authorities said a bomb squad was called to inspect the gas tank and discovered it was an empty container. As they were departing the area, a secondary device hidden near the empty gas tank was set off, injuring the seven soldiers who had been on a routine patrol in the area.

The incident took place in Tambon Balor in Yala's Raman district.

Two of the seven were seriously wounded and taken to a nearby hospital with the rest of the casualties.

The use of secondary explosive devices against security officials has become a common tactic recently among insurgents operating in the deep South where more than 3,400 people have been killed since January 2004.