At least 32 people have died and dozens more have been injured after a crane collapsed on to a passenger train in Thailand, causing it to derail. The incident occurred in Nakhon Ratchasima province, north-east of Bangkok, at a construction site for a high-speed rail project backed by China.
Footage from the scene verified by Agence France-Presse showed the crane's broken structure resting on giant concrete pillars, with smoke rising from the wreckage. Rescuers worked to extract passengers from the tilted carriages. The train had been travelling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province.
Local resident Mitr Intrpanya, 54, who was at the scene, described hearing a loud noise followed by two explosions. He said the crane's metal appeared to strike the middle of the second carriage, slicing it in half. The health ministry reported 64 people hospitalised, seven in serious condition.
The crash occurred at a site for a $5.4bn high-speed rail network connecting Bangkok to Kunming in China via Laos, part of China's Belt and Road initiative. The district police chief, Thatchapon Chinnawong, said rescue operations were paused due to a chemical leakage at the scene.
Transport minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said 195 people were on board, and authorities were working to identify the deceased. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul called for an investigation into the cause and suggested blacklisting construction companies repeatedly responsible for accidents. Industrial accidents are common in Thailand due to lax safety enforcement.
