A construction crane collapsed onto a moving passenger train in northeastern Thailand on Wednesday, killing at least 29 people and injuring dozens more in one of the country’s deadliest rail disasters in recent years, authorities said.
The train was traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province when it struck the fallen crane around 9:10 a.m. local time, derailing at high speed in Nakhon Ratchasima province, according to railway officials and emergency responders.
Images and video from the scene showed mangled rail cars overturned beside the tracks, sections of twisted crane scattered across the line, and plumes of smoke rising as rescue workers searched through crushed metal and debris for survivors.
At least 67 people were injured, eight of them critically, the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Public Health Office said. Police said additional victims were believed to be trapped inside the wreckage, raising fears the death toll could climb.
The three-carriage train was carrying about 195 passengers and traveling at roughly 120 kilometers per hour (75 miles per hour) when it was struck, according to Transport Minister Piphat Ratchakitprakan. The second and third carriages sustained the most severe damage.
A fire broke out in one of the cars following the impact, complicating rescue efforts, said Thirasak Wongsungnoen, a train staff member who was onboard. He said flames and smoke prevented access to parts of the train as injured passengers waited for help.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed condolences to the families of those killed and ordered an investigation into the cause of the collapse, saying authorities would determine whether safety protocols had been violated.
The crane was being used in the construction of an elevated section of a high-speed railway project linking Bangkok to the northeastern province of Nong Khai, near the border with Laos. The project is a joint Thai-Chinese initiative connected to Beijing’s Belt and Road infrastructure strategy.
Officials said the crane fell onto the tracks as the train passed beneath the elevated structure. The public relations office for Nakhon Ratchasima province said the incident occurred within an active construction zone, raising questions about coordination between rail operations and building work.
Video broadcast by ThaiPBS showed rescue workers standing atop overturned train cars with large holes torn into their sides, while paramedics treated the wounded nearby. Construction equipment was seen dangling between concrete pillars above the wreckage.
Ubon Ratchathani lies in Thailand’s northeastern Isan region, bordering Laos and Cambodia. While the route is less frequented by tourists than major north-south rail lines, it serves as a key transportation link for local residents.
Pattern of safety concerns
The deadly crash comes amid growing scrutiny of safety standards on large-scale infrastructure projects in Thailand. In August 2024, a tunnel under construction along the same high-speed rail corridor in Nakhon Ratchasima collapsed, killing three workers. Heavy rainfall was believed to have contributed to that incident.
The Bangkok–Nong Khai high-speed rail project is being built in phases at a total cost exceeding 520 billion baht ($16.8 billion). Once completed, it is intended to connect Thailand’s rail network with Laos and southern China.
While investigations are ongoing, the disaster highlights the risks associated with operating conventional rail services alongside massive construction projects. Experts have warned that overlapping timelines, insufficient safety buffers and weak enforcement can increase the likelihood of catastrophic failures.
As Thailand races to modernize its transportation infrastructure, Wednesday’s tragedy is expected to intensify calls for stricter oversight, improved coordination between construction contractors and rail operators, and more rigorous emergency preparedness.
For families of the victims, the focus remains on accountability and recovery, as authorities work to identify those killed and determine how a single equipment failure led to such devastating loss of life.
Reuters/AP
