Martial law and a curfew were imposed as a wave of bombings rocked conflict-ridden southern Thailand on Sunday.

Army leaders imposed the security measure in the idyllic coastal province of Narathiwat, following the spate of explosions reportedly carried out by insurgents on January 11.

Residents and tourists were banned from leaving their homes from 9 pm to 5 am. Those who need to travel during the curfew must obtain a permit from local authorities.

The tightened restrictions followed coordinated attacks that targetted 11 petrol stations across the southern provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala, on January 11.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, citing security agencies, said attacks were carried out to disrupt the local elections.

He added that the Fourth Army Region and the Provincial Police Region 9 have been tasked to investigate the explosions.

Just day later, the Narathiwat Task Force has lifted the curfew as officials said the threat was 'manageable'.

Maj Gen Yod-arwut Puengpakdee, commander of the Narathiwat Task Force, said: 'The situation in the province which threatened the lives and property of people from the insurgency is at a level that can be managed.'

Islamic separatist terror attacks target the three southernmost provinces of Thailand - Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat - next to the border with Mulsim neighbors Malaysia. Thai state employees and infrastructure are often hit while attacks on civilians are rare.

Officials believe the conflict dates to a deal in 1909 that the British Empire struck to incorporate the Muslim region into the Siamese mainland.

The region's culture is more similar to Malaysia and dramatically different to Buddhist Thais causing decades of tension that lead to the emergence of separatist groups fighting for independence in the 1960s.

The struggle has continued ever since with more than 7,344 people killed and 13,641 injured between January 2004 and March 2022.

The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office warns against all but essential travel to the region while Canada's government warns its nationals to 'avoid all travel' to the three provinces.