A passenger train derailed in Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeast Thailand, on Wednesday, after a construction crane collapsed onto its carriages. The incident resulted in at least 32 fatalities and approximately 64 to 80 injuries, with some reports indicating three individuals remained missing. The crane was part of an elevated high-speed rail project, and authorities have launched multiple investigations into the cause of the collapse.
Incident Details
The accident occurred on Wednesday, around 09:00 local time (02:00 GMT), in the Sikhio district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, approximately 230 kilometers (143 miles) northeast of Bangkok. The train, carrying between 171 and 195 passengers, was en route from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province when the crane struck it.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud noise followed by explosions. The crane's impact caused the train to derail and subsequently catch fire, which was later extinguished. Initial reports of fatalities varied, with figures ranging from 19 to 32. Police indicated that some bodies could not be immediately retrieved due to the instability of the crane wreckage.
Casualties and Rescue Operations
At least 32 people were confirmed dead, and between 64 and 80 individuals sustained injuries. Among the injured were a one-year-old and an 85-year-old, with seven individuals reported to be in critical condition. Many of the passengers were students and workers commuting for school and employment.
Rescue personnel utilized cranes and hydraulic cutting tools to extract passengers from the damaged carriages. The crane's metal reportedly sliced through the middle of one carriage, and the last two or four carriages sustained the most extensive damage. The fatalities were primarily located in two or three of the carriages directly impacted by the crane. The crane operator was reported to have died in the incident.
Construction Project Context
The crane was being used for an elevated segment of a high-speed rail project, which involves constructing a concrete platform above the existing railway. This project is a Thai-Chinese initiative linking Bangkok to Nong Khai province, bordering Laos, and is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative. The project has a reported investment exceeding 520 billion baht (approximately US$16.8 billion or US$5.4 billion). The crane was reportedly lifting a large concrete section when it fell.
Investigation and Official Response
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn confirmed the number of passengers and ordered a thorough investigation into the accident. The State Railway of Thailand has also initiated an investigation and announced it is pursuing legal action against the construction firm responsible for the crane, identified as Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul requested an investigation into the accident.
Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited expressed regret over the incident and stated its intention to provide compensation and relief to the affected families. The national rail operator ordered the company to cease construction activities on the project until the investigation is completed. Minister Ratchakitprakarn affirmed that all parties involved, including Italian-Thai Development and a Chinese consultancy company, would be held accountable.
Related Incidents
The incident follows a previous railway tunnel collapse on the same planned route in Nakhon Ratchasima in August 2024, which killed three workers. Heavy rainfall was cited as a contributing factor in that event.
Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited has been linked to other construction accidents. The day after the train derailment, a separate crane collapse occurred on the Rama II Expressway in Samut Sakhon province, outside Bangkok, killing two drivers. The Rama II Expressway, which is undergoing significant expansion, has been referred to as "Death Road" due to numerous delays and fatalities from infrastructure projects, including previous collapses. An engineering professor at Kasetsart University suggested human factors were a more probable cause of the train incident, ruling out natural causes, and noting Thailand's history of construction accidents partly attributed to weak enforcement of safety standards.