Thailand – A catastrophic accident in northeastern Thailand has claimed the lives of at least 22 people after a construction crane collapsed onto a moving passenger train on Wednesday. The incident occurred in the Sikhio district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, roughly 230 km northeast of Bangkok. The train, which was carrying 195 passengers and staff, was en route from the capital to Ubon Ratchathani province when the heavy machinery fell from an elevated high-speed rail construction site.
The impact of the crane caused several carriages to derail and triggered a brief fire, which was subsequently extinguished by emergency services. In addition to the confirmed fatalities, authorities report that at least 80 individuals have been injured, with several remaining in critical condition. Rescue operations were briefly hampered by reports of a chemical leakage at the site, necessitating a cautious approach by first responders. The crane was part of a major $5.4 bn high-speed railway project intended to connect Bangkok to southern China.
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has expressed his deepest condolences to the victims’ families and ordered an immediate high-level investigation into the cause of the structural failure.
