A catastrophic industrial accident in north-east Thailand has left at least 22 people dead and scores more injured after a construction crane collapsed onto a moving passenger train, causing it to derail and catch fire.
Scene of Devastation in Nakhon Ratchasima
The disaster struck on Wednesday morning in Nakhon Ratchasima province, north-east of Bangkok. According to local resident Mitr Intrpanya, 54, the incident began with a loud noise followed by two explosions. A crane working on a major high-speed rail project toppled, its metal structure slicing through the middle of the train's second carriage.
Footage from the scene showed the crane's broken frame resting on concrete pillars, with smoke billowing from the wrecked train carriages below. Rescue teams worked urgently to extract passengers from the tilted coaches.
Rescue Efforts and Official Response
District police chief Thatchapon Chinnawong confirmed the death toll of 22, with at least 80 others injured. The rescue operation was temporarily paused due to concerns over a chemical leak at the site.
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn stated that 195 passengers were on board the service, which was travelling from the capital, Bangkok, to Ubon Ratchathani province. Authorities are now working to identify the deceased, and the minister has ordered a full investigation into the cause of the accident.
Links to Major Infrastructure Project
The collapse occurred at a construction site that is part of a $5.4 billion high-speed rail project backed by Beijing. This network is a key component of China's vast Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to connect Bangkok to Kunming in China via Laos by 2028.
Upon completion, Chinese-made trains are intended to run from Bangkok to the Laos border at speeds of up to 250 km/h. The accident casts a stark light on longstanding concerns over safety regulations and enforcement on Thai construction sites, where industrial accidents are regrettably common.
