A catastrophic construction accident claimed at least 32 lives and injured 66 others when a massive crane collapsed directly onto a moving passenger train in north-eastern Thailand.
The incident occurred around 09:00 local time (02:00 GMT) as the train travelled from Bangkok towards Ubon Ratchathani province, carrying approximately 171 passengers – predominantly students heading to school and workers commuting to other districts.
The falling crane derailed multiple carriages and crushed several, with one carriage erupting into flames. Among the injured were a one-year-old infant and an 85-year-old individual, seven of whom remain in critical condition according to authorities.
Local media outlet The Nation reported that the crane was hoisting a large concrete section when it failed, causing four coaches to derail completely.
Survivor testimonies
Train staff member Thirasak Wongsoongnern recounted to local media how he and fellow passengers were violently thrown into the air by the sudden impact of the crane striking the train.
Eyewitness Maliwan Nakthon provided a harrowing account to BBC Thai, describing how small concrete fragments began falling first, followed by the crane itself slowly sliding down before delivering a devastating blow. “It struck hard, then came down and crushed the train,” she said. “The entire incident unfolded in less than one minute.”
Investigation and legal action
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) immediately launched a formal investigation and announced legal proceedings against Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited, the construction firm operating the crane.
Initial damage assessments for the train carriages alone exceed 100 million baht (approximately US$3.1 million). The company expressed deep regret and committed to providing compensation and relief support to victims’ families.
China-backed infrastructure project
The tragedy unfolded during work on the Bangkok-Nong Khai High-Speed Rail Development for Regional Connectivity, a US$5.4 billion (£4 billion) China-backed infrastructure initiative designed to connect Bangkok with neighbouring Laos and ultimately integrate with China’s extensive high-speed rail network extending to its south-western regions.
Italian-Thai Development holds responsibility for the Lam Takhong-Sikhio section where the fatal collapse occurred.
Government response and safety concerns
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, scheduled to visit the disaster site later on Wednesday, demanded strict accountability, stating such accidents result only from negligence, procedural shortcuts, design deviations, or substandard materials. Thailand grapples with persistent construction safety issues stemming from inadequate regulatory enforcement.
The Chinese embassy clarified no Chinese firms or workers participated in the incident. Italian-Thai Development, one of Thailand’s largest contractors, faces ongoing scrutiny following charges of professional negligence related to a Bangkok skyscraper collapse during last March’s earthquake – an incident where the company president and several engineers now contest allegations.
Recent Thai accidents underscore the crisis: a 2023 freight train-pickup truck collision killed eight, while approximately 150 fatalities marred a seven-year Bangkok-southern road improvement project.
Source: BBC
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