Thailand: Crane collapse in Bangkok suburbs kills two

• A construction crane fell onto a highway in Samut Sakhon, killing two and damaging vehicles.
• Both accidents involve Italian-Thai Development, highlighting lax safety enforcement in Thailand.

Two people were killed when a construction crane collapsed onto a highway in Samut Sakhon, a suburb of Bangkok, just one day after a separate crane accident in northeastern Thailand killed 32 people.

Highway collapse

Footage from the scene shows the crane crashing onto the highway, crushing cars and leaving a cloud of dust and debris, according to AFP.

The crane was part of work on an expressway project, nicknamed “Death Road” due to multiple accidents in recent years.

Previous incident

On Wednesday, a crane fell onto a moving train in Nakhon Ratchasima, injuring more than 60 people.

Read more: At least 22 killed as crane collapses on train in Thailand

Both incidents involve Italian-Thai Development, one of Thailand’s largest construction firms, which has faced criticism for safety lapses. The company is also responsible for a Bangkok skyscraper that collapsed last March during an earthquake, while surrounding buildings remained intact.

Safety concerns

Construction accidents are common in Thailand, partly due to weak enforcement of safety standards. Over the past seven years, around 150 people have died in accidents linked to a road improvement project from Bangkok to southern provinces.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he would address “negligence” in construction following Wednesday’s accident. The State Railway of Thailand is pursuing legal action against Italian-Thai Development.