August M
A routine morning journey turned into catastrophe after a construction accident struck a moving passenger train. Rescue teams worked through wreckage as questions mounted over safety and accountability.
Authorities say the toll is among the deadliest rail-related disasters in recent years.
Train disaster
At least 32 people were killed and 66 others injured when a construction crane collapsed onto a moving train in north-eastern Thailand, according to officials. The accident happened at about 09:00 local time, reports the BBC
The crane derailed several carriages, crushing parts of the train. One carriage caught fire following the impact.
Officials said 171 passengers were onboard. Among the injured are a one-year-old child and an 85-year-old, with seven people reported to be in critical condition.
What happened
The train was travelling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province, carrying mainly students and workers commuting to schools and jobs in other districts.
Local outlet The Nation reported that the crane was lifting a large concrete section when it dropped onto the train, causing four coaches to derail.
Train staff member Thirasak Wongsoongnern told local media that passengers were violently thrown around inside the carriages when the crane struck.
Eyewitness accounts
Maliwan Nakthon, who witnessed the collapse, told BBC Thai that debris began falling moments before the main impact.
“There were small pieces, like fragments of concrete, that started falling,” she said. “After those fell, the crane slowly slid down and hit. It struck hard, and then it came down and crushed the train.”
“The whole incident took less than one minute,” she added.
Official response
The State Railway of Thailand said it has launched an investigation and is taking legal action against the construction company responsible.
Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited said it expressed regret and would provide compensation and relief to families of those killed or injured.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul called for accountability, saying “someone to be punished and held accountable”.
“Accidents like this can only happen due to negligence, skipped steps, deviations from the design, or the use of incorrect materials,” he said.
Project scrutiny
The crane was part of work on an overhead railway linked to a US$5.4bn China-backed project connecting Bangkok with Laos, where a Chinese-built high-speed line already operates.
Italian-Thai Development is listed as the contractor for the section where the collapse occurred.
The State Railway of Thailand said it is suing the firm, with initial damage to train carriages alone estimated at more than 100 million baht.
Chinese state media quoted China’s embassy in Thailand as saying no Chinese companies or workers were involved.
Safety concerns
Thailand has seen repeated deadly construction accidents, often blamed on weak enforcement of safety regulations.
The latest disaster has renewed scrutiny of major infrastructure projects and oversight practices.
Sources: Thai authorities, BBC Thai, The Nation
