In Nakhon Ratchasima, northeast of Bangkok, a construction crane fell onto an express train on Wednesday afternoon (9.05 local time). The Bangkok–Ubon Ratchathani train was travelling at 120 km/h and was carrying 195 people, including passengers and staff.
The crane fell onto two carriages, causing them to derail and catch fire. In the second carriage, which had 40 passengers on board, it was difficult to escape because the automatic doors and windows could not be opened manually. Witnesses initially heard two explosions as the metal crane sliced through the middle of the second carriage.
Emergency services rescued passengers from the wreckage using hydraulic cutters and transported them to several hospitals. Authorities have so far reported 32 fatalities, 64 injured, and three people still missing. Among the injured, seven were seriously hurt, 19 sustained moderate injuries, and 38 suffered minor injuries.
The construction project involved is intended to be the first section of the Thai–Chinese high-speed railway, which is planned to connect Bangkok with Kunming in China via Laos, possibly by 2030.
Safety shortcomings in major construction projects are now under political scrutiny, and an investigation has been launched.
