22+ Dead in Shocking Thailand Train Tragedy as Crane Collapses — Full Details Inside
The train, travelling from Bangkok to northeast Thailand, derails when a construction crane falls on it
At least 22 people have been killed and about 80 injured when a construction crane fell on a passenger train in northeast Thailand.
The accident took place on Wednesday in the Sikhio district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, 230km (143 miles) northeast of Bangkok. The train was headed from the Thai capital to Ubon Ratchathani province.
The crane was being used to build an elevated track as part of a joint Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project, according to reports. It fell onto the moving train, causing it to derail and briefly catch fire.
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said in a statement 195 passengers were on board the train and he had ordered a full investigation. Those killed were in two of the three carriages hit by the crane, he said.
Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng, reporting from Bangkok, said the death toll is expected to rise.
“Initial reports said there were only four fatalities. That very quickly jumped to 12, and we now understand from the Thai police who told Al Jazeera that it’s 22,” Cheng said.
Thai media reported that rescue teams have been using heavy equipment to remove trapped passengers from the wreckage.
Local resident Mitr Intrpanya, 54, was at the scene when the incident happened.
“At around 9am, I heard a loud noise, like something sliding down from above, followed by two explosions,” Mitr told the AFP news agency.
“When I went to see what had happened, I found the crane sitting on a passenger train with three carriages. The metal from the crane appeared to strike the middle of the second carriage, slicing it in half,” Mitr said.
Cheng said the route that the train was taking is “very commonly used”, serving heavily populated regions of northeast Thailand.
“This route has been the site of a high-speed Chinese rail project, which has been under construction for quite some time now – about a decade,” he said.
“It is supposed to be bringing a high-speed rail, which is on a concrete platform above the existing rail line. Pictures that we have seen of the scene seem to show the crane, which was working up there, has fallen from these big concrete columns,” he added.
Industrial and construction site accidents have long been common in Thailand.
In 2023, a freight train killed eight people when it struck a pick-up truck crossing railway tracks in eastern Thailand.
Three years earlier, a freight train killed at least 18 people and injured more than 40 when it crashed into a bus carrying passengers to a religious ceremony.
In March, an under-construction high-rise building collapsed in Bangkok after an earthquake, killing more than 100 people.
At least 22 people lost their lives after a massive construction crane collapsed onto a moving train in northeast Thailand, triggering one of the deadliest rail-related disasters the country has witnessed in recent years. The tragic incident occurred during daylight hours, sending shockwaves across the region and prompting an urgent response from emergency services, railway authorities, and local government officials.
According to preliminary reports, the crane was part of an ongoing infrastructure or construction project near the railway tracks when it suddenly lost balance and toppled directly onto the passing train. The impact crushed several coaches, leaving passengers trapped under twisted metal and debris. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and devastation as screams echoed through the area moments after the collision.
Emergency responders, including police, firefighters, medical teams, and disaster response units, rushed to the scene within minutes of the accident. Rescue operations continued for several hours as teams worked tirelessly to extract survivors from the wreckage. Heavy machinery was deployed to lift the collapsed crane and damaged train coaches, while medical personnel provided immediate aid to the injured.
Officials confirmed that at least 22 fatalities had been recorded, with several others sustaining critical injuries. Many of the wounded were rushed to nearby hospitals, where doctors remain on high alert. Authorities have warned that the death toll could rise further as rescue operations progress and more information becomes available.
Survivors of the crash recounted terrifying moments as the train came to a sudden halt following a deafening crash. Several passengers reported that there was no warning before the crane collapsed, leaving them no time to react. Luggage, metal fragments, and shattered glass were scattered across the train compartments, adding to the chaos.
“I heard a loud bang and everything went dark,” said one injured passenger receiving treatment at a local hospital. “People were crying for help. It was terrifying.”
Thailand’s railway authorities and local administration have launched a full-scale investigation to determine the cause of the crane collapse. Initial focus is expected to center on safety protocols at construction sites near active railway lines, equipment maintenance records, and whether proper permissions and inspections were carried out before operations began.
Government officials have assured the public that accountability will be established. “This is a tragic incident that must be thoroughly investigated,” a senior official said. “We will take strict action if negligence or safety violations are found.”
The accident caused major disruptions to rail services in northeast Thailand, with several train routes suspended or diverted. Passengers were advised to check schedules and expect delays as cleanup and repair work continued at the site. Railway officials said restoring normal operations could take several days, depending on the extent of damage to the tracks and signaling systems.
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