At least 32 people have been killed and 66 others injured after a construction crane fell onto a moving train in north-eastern Thailand. The crane derailed the train and crushed some of its carriages, one of which caught fire. A one-year-old and an 85-year-old are among those injured, with seven people in critical condition, according to authorities.
Officials say some 171 passengers had been onboard the train when the accident occurred at around 09:00 local time. The State Railway of Thailand has launched an investigation into the incident and announced that it is taking legal action against the construction company responsible for the crane.
Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited expressed regret and stated it would provide compensation and relief to the families of those affected. The train was traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province when the crane, lifting a large concrete section, dropped onto it, causing four coaches to derail. Local reports indicate a survivor described being thrown into the air at the moment of impact, while eyewitnesses spoke of seeing concrete fragments falling prior to the crane collapsing.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has called for accountability, attributing the accident to negligence and lapses in safety protocols. The crane was part of a US$5.4 billion project aimed at boosting regional connectivity between Bangkok and Laos. The company involved has a troubled history, having been implicated in previous construction failures. Thailand has a record of construction accidents, often linked to poor safety enforcement, highlighting urgent needs for reforms in regulatory practices.
Officials say some 171 passengers had been onboard the train when the accident occurred at around 09:00 local time. The State Railway of Thailand has launched an investigation into the incident and announced that it is taking legal action against the construction company responsible for the crane.
Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited expressed regret and stated it would provide compensation and relief to the families of those affected. The train was traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province when the crane, lifting a large concrete section, dropped onto it, causing four coaches to derail. Local reports indicate a survivor described being thrown into the air at the moment of impact, while eyewitnesses spoke of seeing concrete fragments falling prior to the crane collapsing.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has called for accountability, attributing the accident to negligence and lapses in safety protocols. The crane was part of a US$5.4 billion project aimed at boosting regional connectivity between Bangkok and Laos. The company involved has a troubled history, having been implicated in previous construction failures. Thailand has a record of construction accidents, often linked to poor safety enforcement, highlighting urgent needs for reforms in regulatory practices.
