At least 22 killed as crane collapses on train in Thailand
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- At least 22 killed and over 30 injured after crane collapses onto passenger train in northern Thailand.
- Incident occurred on a high-speed rail construction project linked to China’s Belt and Road initiative.
Thailand woke Wednesday to a devastating accident in which at least 22 people were killed and more than 30 injured after a massive crane fell onto a passenger train in the country’s north.
The crash occurred early Wednesday morning in Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeast of Bangkok, as the train traveled from the capital toward Ubon Ratchathani. Local police official Thatchapon Chinawong told AFP the initial casualty count: “22 dead and over 30 injured.”
Train derailed and caught fire
Provincial public relations authorities reported that the crane struck the train, causing it to derail and catch fire. Live footage showed rescue workers rushing amid rising smoke and scattered debris.
Transport Minister Wivat Ratchakitprakarn confirmed that the ill-fated train carried 195 passengers. Authorities are racing to identify the victims and provide assistance to the injured.
Construction project context
The crane was part of a $5.4 billion high-speed rail project supported by China under the Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to connect Bangkok to Kunming, China, via Laos by 2028.
The accident raises fresh concerns about construction safety standards in Thailand, where industrial and construction site incidents are frequent due to lax enforcement of safety regulations.
