A construction crane collapsed onto a moving passenger train in northeastern Thailand on Wednesday, resulting in a tragic derailment that has claimed the lives of at least 30 people and injured many others. The incident occurred as the train was traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province, carrying approximately 171 passengers at the time of the accident.
Anuphong Suksomnit, the governor of Nakhon Ratchasima province, confirmed that four passengers remain unaccounted for following the collision, with search and rescue teams continuing their efforts through the wreckage hours later. Eyewitness accounts and images from the scene depict smoke rising from the site, alongside construction equipment that hung precariously from the elevated railway structure where the crane was operating.
The crane was part of the construction efforts for a high-speed rail project aimed at connecting Thailand with China and various Southeast Asian nations. The Thai government is investing over 520 billion baht (approximately $A25 billion) in this ambitious initiative, which falls under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Rescue operations were complicated by the condition of the train carriages, which were overturned and severely damaged. Video footage from ThaiPBS showed rescue workers navigating through carriages that had massive gaping holes, attempting to extract survivors from the wreckage.
In response to the disaster, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Thailand’s Transport Minister, announced the initiation of an investigation into the collapse. This incident follows a previous tragedy in August 2024, when a railway tunnel on the same route collapsed, resulting in the deaths of three workers, allegedly due to heavy rainfall at the time.
The elevated segment that failed is a critical component of the Thai-Chinese railway project, which aims to enhance connectivity between Bangkok and Nong Khai, a province bordering Laos. The construction contractor for the project is Italian-Thai Development, a company that has faced scrutiny in the past. Following the recent accident, authorities stated they would assess the responsibilities of both the contractor and the Chinese company overseeing the design and construction supervision.
Damage to the train is estimated to exceed 100 million baht, while the construction equipment suffered relatively minor damage. The contractor, Italian-Thai Development, has expressed condolences to the victims and committed to providing compensation for the families of those who lost their lives, as well as covering medical expenses for the injured.
Outrage has surged in Thailand over the incident, as this company was also linked to a catastrophic construction failure in March, when the State Audit Building in Bangkok collapsed, killing around 100 people during an earthquake in neighboring Myanmar. Following that disaster, numerous executives were indicted, but no trials have taken place to date.
As the investigation into this latest tragic event unfolds, the Thai government faces increasing pressure to ensure accountability and prevent future accidents in the ongoing railway construction projects that are critical to national infrastructure development.
