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At least 32 dead as crane falls onto moving train in Thailand
A construction crane collapsed onto a passenger train in northeastern Thailand on Wednesday morning, killing 32 people and injuring 66 others, authorities confirmed. The accident occurred near the Lam Takhong-Sikhio section of a high-speed rail project linking Bangkok to Laos.
Chaos and fire after impact
The crane derailed the train and crushed several carriages, one of which burst into flames. Among the injured are a one-year-old child and an 85-year-old, with seven passengers reported in critical condition. The train, carrying 171 passengers-mostly students and workers-was en route from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani when the incident unfolded at approximately 09:00 local time (02:00 GMT).
Survivors recount harrowing moments
Train staff member Thirasak Wongsoongnern, who survived the crash, told local media that passengers were violently thrown into the air when the crane struck. Eyewitness Maliwan Nakthon described the collapse to BBC Thai: "Small concrete fragments began falling first. Then the crane slowly slid down and hit the train with tremendous force."
"The whole incident took less than a minute," Nakthon added.
Authorities demand accountability
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is set to visit the site later Wednesday, condemned the accident as a result of negligence. "Accidents like this occur only due to skipped steps, deviations from design, or the use of incorrect materials," he stated, calling for those responsible to be punished.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has launched an investigation and announced legal action against Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited, the construction firm overseeing the crane operation. The company, which expressed regret, pledged compensation for victims' families.
Project details and past controversies
The crane was part of a $5.4 billion (£4 billion) China-backed railway project connecting Bangkok to Laos, where a Chinese-built high-speed line already extends to southwestern China. Italian-Thai Development is the primary contractor for the Lam Takhong-Sikhio segment where the accident occurred.
The SRT estimates damages to the train carriages alone exceed 100 million baht ($31 million). The company has faced scrutiny before; last March, a Bangkok skyscraper under its construction collapsed during an earthquake. Several executives and engineers were charged with professional negligence, though some denied wrongdoing.
The Chinese embassy in Thailand clarified that no Chinese firms or workers were involved in the crane collapse, according to state media.
Thailand's history of deadly construction accidents
Weak enforcement of safety regulations has contributed to repeated tragedies in Thailand's construction sector. In 2023, a freight train collided with a pickup truck at a crossing, killing eight. Over the past seven years, approximately 150 people have died in accidents linked to a road improvement project between Bangkok and southern Thailand.
