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Warning: This article contains details of accidents that some readers may find distressing.
Two killed as crane collapses on Thai highway
Two people died when a construction crane toppled onto a busy expressway in Samut Sakhon, a suburb of Bangkok, on Thursday, just a day after a similar incident in northeastern Thailand claimed 32 lives.
Video footage captured the moment the crane crashed onto the roadway, crushing vehicles and sending a cloud of dust and debris into the air. The accident occurred during work on an expressway project.
Second fatal incident in 48 hours
On Wednesday, a crane collapsed onto a moving train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, killing 32 people and injuring more than 60. Both accidents involved Italian-Thai Development, one of Thailand's largest construction firms.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul responded to the train disaster by vowing to tackle construction negligence. He directed the transport ministry to terminate contracts with the company, blacklist it from future projects, and pursue legal action.
"This is deeply alarming for the public and poses serious risks to lives and property," he stated.
Company faces legal action and backlash
The State Railway of Thailand announced it is suing Italian-Thai Development over the train accident. The company expressed regret and pledged compensation to victims' families.
This is not the first time the firm has faced scrutiny. Last March, a skyscraper it was building in Bangkok collapsed during an earthquake, while other city structures remained intact. The company's president and several engineers were later charged with professional negligence.
Safety concerns and past tragedies
Thailand's construction industry has a history of deadly accidents, often linked to lax enforcement of safety regulations. Over the past seven years, around 150 people have died in accidents tied to a major road improvement project connecting Bangkok to the country's south.
The expressway where Thursday's collapse occurred has earned the grim nickname "Death Road" due to multiple fatal incidents in recent years, according to AFP.
