Two monks appeared to have supernatural powers after walking by a building – seconds before a bomb exploded.

CCTV footage shows the two men in orange robes alongside protection officers while they were out on the street to collect alms in Narathiwat province, southern Thailand, on December 11.

However, a bomb exploded in front of a house mere seconds after the monks – who were oblivious to the threat – walked past it.

The group had walked far enough that they were uninjured by the blast but they reportedly suffered tinnitus and dizziness and had to be taken to a hospital for check-ups.

Monk Metha Panyawuto, who survived unscathed, said: ‘When it happened, we walked past the spot about 15 metres before the explosion took place. I saw the other monk fall, and the cover of his alms bowl bouncing off.’

The explosion caused damage to four houses and a sedan. Pieces of shrapnel were recovered at the scene. The volunteer police rangers Ritthiphon Thongkaew, 34, and Anan Rattanaburi, 37, Sulkeeplee Benjamat, 57, and Somphon Meepon, 49, were all unhurt.

Lieutenant Colonel Danai Youngaphai said: ‘We found a 20kg gas tank placed inside a trash can in front of the house. We believe those were the remains of the bomb assembled by the assailant before it was detonated remotely.

‘Fragments of the explosive at the scene have been collected as evidence. The bomb was placed as a trap as the culprit knew that the monks walk past this area to collect alms every morning.’

Thailand’s deep south is ravaged by violence between security forces and Islamist separatists who believe the region should join with hard-line religious neighbours Malaysia.