At least 22 people have been killed and dozens more injured after a construction crane collapsed onto a passenger train in north-eastern Thailand, causing the train to derail and catch fire, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
The accident happened in Nakhon Ratchasima province, around 250 kilometres north-east of Bangkok, near an active railway construction site.
What Happened
According to local officials, the crane fell onto the middle of the moving train during the morning hours, crushing several carriages and triggering a derailment. Emergency responders arrived quickly and began rescuing trapped passengers from the damaged and tilted train cars.
Verified video footage from the scene shows large sections of the crane lying across concrete pillars, while smoke rises from the wreckage of the train below.
A local resident said he heard a loud crash followed by explosions before seeing the crane resting on top of the train.
Casualties and Rescue Efforts
Police confirmed that 22 people were killed at the scene, while around 80 others were injured. Several passengers are believed to be in critical condition, and hospitals are continuing to assess the injured.
Rescue teams were later forced to pause operations temporarily after officials detected a possible chemical leak near the crash site, raising safety concerns for emergency workers.
Authorities said 195 passengers were onboard the train at the time of the accident.
Train Route and Infrastructure Project
The train was travelling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani, a major route in Thailand’s rail network.
The crane was part of a $5.4 billion high-speed rail project, supported by China, which aims to link Bangkok with Kunming in southern China via Laos by 2028. The project is part of China’s wider Belt and Road Initiative, designed to improve regional transport links across Asia.
Once completed, the 600-kilometre railway is expected to carry Chinese-built trains at speeds of up to 250 km/h, significantly reducing travel times.
Government Response
Thailand’s transport minister ordered an urgent investigation to determine the cause of the collapse and assess whether safety standards were followed at the construction site. Officials are also working to formally identify those who lost their lives.
Authorities said rail services in the area have been suspended while inspections and recovery operations continue.
Ongoing Safety Concerns
Thailand has a railway network of around 5,000 kilometres, much of which is ageing. While major upgrades are underway, construction and industrial accidents remain a serious concern, often linked to weak enforcement of safety regulations.
Public safety experts have repeatedly called for stricter oversight, improved training, and stronger enforcement at large infrastructure projects to prevent deadly incidents.
As investigations continue, families of the victims are awaiting answers, while the country mourns one of the deadliest rail-related construction accidents in recent years.
