This brings us to the end of our live coverage, but you can continue to get the latest on the story here.
Post update
The Police General Hospital in Bangkok has been treating many of the people injured in the blast.
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Meanwhile emergency services continue to gather evidence at the scene of the explosion.
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Authorities rule out separatist attack
It remains unknown who carried out the attack, but the Thai military have ruled out Muslim insurgents in the south, the Nation reports - separatists have been fighting Thai rule for over a decade. The authorities say there are three possible motives for the blast - "political conflict, state official reshuffle, and international terrorism", the site adds.
Secure area of Bangkok
Tin Htar Swe from the BBC's Burmese Service said it was "unthinkable" that a bomb would go off in the Erawan Shrine area.
She said since the trouble with rioting there in 2010, surveillance cameras had been installed and the road bridge rebuilt so that in the case of any trouble it could be used by Thai soldiers to monitor the area.
"It is very secure," she said.
Post update
The blast happened at the Ratchaprasong intersection outside the iron gates of the Erawan Shrine. Despite the wreckage the shrine itself appears to be still intact. Police are searching the area for evidence.
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CCTV evidence
Bangkok's deputy governor Amorn Kijchawengkul told Thai television CCTV evidence of the explosion is being investigated, but could not give any more details.
'Huge impact'
Leify Porter who's from Australia, witnessed the explosion:
Quote Message: We were on the sky bridge, where everyone walks to cross over a road. It was directly above where the explosion went off, and we heard a huge bang, there was flames, there was smoke, debris flying everywhere, everyone was running, it was quite chaotic. We saw cars on fire, and a lot of people seriously injured and deceased. We all, sort of, dropped to the ground, it was a huge impact. My ears are still ringing and I have a huge headache. Being on a sky bridge, everything shook beneath us, it was quite intense.
We were on the sky bridge, where everyone walks to cross over a road. It was directly above where the explosion went off, and we heard a huge bang, there was flames, there was smoke, debris flying everywhere, everyone was running, it was quite chaotic. We saw cars on fire, and a lot of people seriously injured and deceased. We all, sort of, dropped to the ground, it was a huge impact. My ears are still ringing and I have a huge headache. Being on a sky bridge, everything shook beneath us, it was quite intense.
#PrayforBangkok
Our colleagues at BBC Trending tweet...
US responds to the blast
The US Charge d'affaires in Thailand tweets:
IED behind blast - Thai media
The blast came from an improvised explosive device attached to a pole inside the shrine complex, the Bangkok Post has reported. An electronic circuit suspected to be part of the bomb was recovered after, the paper says. It also reports that two other devices were later defused.
Location of the blast
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Post update
Distraught relatives have been gathering at the scene searching for news of loved ones.
EPACopyright: EPA
Schools to be closed
BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok reports that city officials will order all schools to be closed on Tuesday.
'We were just so lucky'
Mairead Campbell is a BBC employee who is on holiday in Bangkok and visited the Erawan Shrine on Saturday.
Quote Message: Our hotel is very, very close to where the bomb went off. We heard a bang and went down to reception, where we were told not to leave. We followed that advice - but an hour or two later we nipped outside. The scene was cordoned off and emergency people were still there. I'd describe the scene as chaotic. We visited the shrine on Saturday. It's the most central in Bangkok and hugely popular. Up until now I've felt very safe. We were only supposed to be staying in Bangkok for two days but extended our stay because we loved it so much. We were just so lucky we stayed in the hotel for an afternoon nap rather than go outside.
Our hotel is very, very close to where the bomb went off. We heard a bang and went down to reception, where we were told not to leave. We followed that advice - but an hour or two later we nipped outside. The scene was cordoned off and emergency people were still there. I'd describe the scene as chaotic. We visited the shrine on Saturday. It's the most central in Bangkok and hugely popular. Up until now I've felt very safe. We were only supposed to be staying in Bangkok for two days but extended our stay because we loved it so much. We were just so lucky we stayed in the hotel for an afternoon nap rather than go outside.
Death toll rises
At least 16 people are now known to have died in the attack, with more than 80 injured. Thai media has reported the death toll could be as high as 27, although this is yet to be confirmed.
More from the scene
Pictures have been coming in from Bangkok, showing rescue workers and the wreckage of burnt out motorcycles.
EPACopyright: EPA
EPACopyright: EPA
EPACopyright: EPA
Travel advice
The UK Foreign Office says it is not advising against travel to Bangkok but it has updated its advice
The Erawan Shrine is a major tourist landmark in the Thai capital.
It sits at the Ratchaprasong intersection, which was the focus of months of anti-government protests back in 2010 by supporters of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The Thai government is to set up a "war room" to coordinate the response to the blast, the Nation television channel has quoted Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha as saying.
Post update
Bomb disposal experts are at the popular tourist site.
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'Burnt rubber smell'
Krishna Punjali was visiting his sister in Bangkok when he heard the explosion.
Quote Message: I was driving home and I was about 50 metres from the intersection. At that point there was a loud bang. It sounded as if it lightening had struck, but I looked up and I saw no clouds. After some time I could hear sirens and saw smoke. I rolled down my window and could smell burned rubber. There were lots of police and ambulances and I could see fire in the background. It was a big shock.
I was driving home and I was about 50 metres from the intersection. At that point there was a loud bang. It sounded as if it lightening had struck, but I looked up and I saw no clouds. After some time I could hear sirens and saw smoke. I rolled down my window and could smell burned rubber. There were lots of police and ambulances and I could see fire in the background. It was a big shock.
'Targeted foreigners'
No-one has yet said they carried out the attack, but the Thai Defence Minister believes it was aimed at the economy.
"It was a TNT bomb... the people who did it targeted foreigners and to damage tourism and the economy." Prawit Wongsuwong said.
'Total shock'
The BBC's James Sales was in the Bangkok bureau when the explosion happened.
Quote Message: The windows didn't shatter but we knew it was a big bomb nearby. I managed to get a trauma pack first aid kit from the office. I saw at least nine people who looked like they had died. I tried to do CPR on one man in his 40s but he didn't make it. There were people with such horrific injuries.
The windows didn't shatter but we knew it was a big bomb nearby. I managed to get a trauma pack first aid kit from the office. I saw at least nine people who looked like they had died. I tried to do CPR on one man in his 40s but he didn't make it. There were people with such horrific injuries.
Motorcycle bomb possible
Police say the blast at the Erawan Shrine, which happened at about 19:00 local time (12:00 GMT), may have been caused by a motorcycle bomb.
One bystander, Alessandro Ursic, described the scene near the site of the initial blast.
Quote Message: When I arrived they had already cleared the bodies from the ground outside the Erawan shrine but there were and there are still pieces of human flesh strewn around the intersection; it's really graphic.
When I arrived they had already cleared the bodies from the ground outside the Erawan shrine but there were and there are still pieces of human flesh strewn around the intersection; it's really graphic.
'Total chaos'
Richard Sri-kureja was walking to a mall next to the shrine when he heard a huge blast.
Quote Message: There was total chaos. They blocked off the area, everyone was running in totally different directions. About five minutes later police and ambulances rushed to the scene. I counted around 20 ambulances. That area is usually very, very crowded as it's in the middle of the city and it's usually very packed. A local hotel is full of injured patients. I saw a family that was bleeding badly. Everyone was trying to help as much as they could. Other people were taking photos.
There was total chaos. They blocked off the area, everyone was running in totally different directions. About five minutes later police and ambulances rushed to the scene. I counted around 20 ambulances. That area is usually very, very crowded as it's in the middle of the city and it's usually very packed. A local hotel is full of injured patients. I saw a family that was bleeding badly. Everyone was trying to help as much as they could. Other people were taking photos.
Ratchaprasong detonation
Saiyai Sakawee tweeted this picture from the Ratchaprasong area
Popular site
The Erawan Shrine, close to where the bomb exploded, is found in central Bangkok among hotels and offices. Although the site is to the Hindu god Brahma, it is also popular among Buddhists.
BBCCopyright: BBC
'Second bomb'
The Bangkok post reports on another detonation close to the first blast.
At the scene
BBCCopyright: BBC
The BBC's Jonathan Head sent this image from the Thai capital.
Welcome to our live page, bringing you the latest after a bomb explodes outside a popular religious shrine in the Thai capital Bangkok. A BBC correspondent at the scene says at least 12 people have died and many are severely injured.
Live Reporting
Thom Poole and Emma Atkinson
All times stated are UK
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Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images 
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EPACopyright: EPA 
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BBCCopyright: BBC 
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Latest PostPost update
This brings us to the end of our live coverage, but you can continue to get the latest on the story here.
Post update
The Police General Hospital in Bangkok has been treating many of the people injured in the blast.
Meanwhile emergency services continue to gather evidence at the scene of the explosion.
Authorities rule out separatist attack
It remains unknown who carried out the attack, but the Thai military have ruled out Muslim insurgents in the south, the Nation reports - separatists have been fighting Thai rule for over a decade. The authorities say there are three possible motives for the blast - "political conflict, state official reshuffle, and international terrorism", the site adds.
Secure area of Bangkok
Tin Htar Swe from the BBC's Burmese Service said it was "unthinkable" that a bomb would go off in the Erawan Shrine area.
She said since the trouble with rioting there in 2010, surveillance cameras had been installed and the road bridge rebuilt so that in the case of any trouble it could be used by Thai soldiers to monitor the area.
"It is very secure," she said.
Post update
The blast happened at the Ratchaprasong intersection outside the iron gates of the Erawan Shrine. Despite the wreckage the shrine itself appears to be still intact. Police are searching the area for evidence.
CCTV evidence
Bangkok's deputy governor Amorn Kijchawengkul told Thai television CCTV evidence of the explosion is being investigated, but could not give any more details.
'Huge impact'
Leify Porter who's from Australia, witnessed the explosion:
#PrayforBangkok
Our colleagues at BBC Trending tweet...
US responds to the blast
The US Charge d'affaires in Thailand tweets:
IED behind blast - Thai media
The blast came from an improvised explosive device attached to a pole inside the shrine complex, the Bangkok Post has reported. An electronic circuit suspected to be part of the bomb was recovered after, the paper says. It also reports that two other devices were later defused.
Location of the blast
Post update
Distraught relatives have been gathering at the scene searching for news of loved ones.
Schools to be closed
BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok reports that city officials will order all schools to be closed on Tuesday.
'We were just so lucky'
Mairead Campbell is a BBC employee who is on holiday in Bangkok and visited the Erawan Shrine on Saturday.
Death toll rises
At least 16 people are now known to have died in the attack, with more than 80 injured. Thai media has reported the death toll could be as high as 27, although this is yet to be confirmed.
More from the scene
Pictures have been coming in from Bangkok, showing rescue workers and the wreckage of burnt out motorcycles.
Travel advice
The UK Foreign Office says it is not advising against travel to Bangkok but it has updated its advice
Witnesses
"I heard it, I felt it."
The BBC has gathered eyewitness accounts from people close to the blast site.
Post update
The Erawan Shrine is a major tourist landmark in the Thai capital.
It sits at the Ratchaprasong intersection, which was the focus of months of anti-government protests back in 2010 by supporters of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Read more about the shrine
Mandarin translators needed
The BBC's Hong Kong correspondent tweets:
'War room'
The Thai government is to set up a "war room" to coordinate the response to the blast, the Nation television channel has quoted Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha as saying.
Post update
Bomb disposal experts are at the popular tourist site.
'Burnt rubber smell'
Krishna Punjali was visiting his sister in Bangkok when he heard the explosion.
'Targeted foreigners'
No-one has yet said they carried out the attack, but the Thai Defence Minister believes it was aimed at the economy.
"It was a TNT bomb... the people who did it targeted foreigners and to damage tourism and the economy." Prawit Wongsuwong said.
'Total shock'
The BBC's James Sales was in the Bangkok bureau when the explosion happened.
Motorcycle bomb possible
Police say the blast at the Erawan Shrine, which happened at about 19:00 local time (12:00 GMT), may have been caused by a motorcycle bomb.
Post update
The moment of the blast was caught on CCTV.
'Graphic scene'
One bystander, Alessandro Ursic, described the scene near the site of the initial blast.
'Total chaos'
Richard Sri-kureja was walking to a mall next to the shrine when he heard a huge blast.
Ratchaprasong detonation
Saiyai Sakawee tweeted this picture from the Ratchaprasong area
Popular site
The Erawan Shrine, close to where the bomb exploded, is found in central Bangkok among hotels and offices. Although the site is to the Hindu god Brahma, it is also popular among Buddhists.
'Second bomb'
The Bangkok post reports on another detonation close to the first blast.
At the scene
The BBC's Jonathan Head sent this image from the Thai capital.
Post update
BBC Asia have also set up a Twitter list for further updates.
Post update
Welcome to our live page, bringing you the latest after a bomb explodes outside a popular religious shrine in the Thai capital Bangkok. A BBC correspondent at the scene says at least 12 people have died and many are severely injured.