Thailand's acting prime minister has demanded urgent legal reforms to blacklist construction companies following a catastrophic accident that saw a crane collapse onto a moving passenger train, killing at least 32 people.
Site of Tragedy and Mounting Anger
The disaster struck on Wednesday in Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeast of Bangkok. A crane involved in construction work for a new high-speed rail line plunged onto the train, causing several carriages to derail. The latest figures from Thailand's public health office confirm 32 fatalities and 64 injuries, with seven people in critical condition. Three passengers remain missing from the 171 people on board.
Acting Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul cancelled a campaign rally and flew by helicopter to visit the scene. He offered sympathies to victims' families but was unequivocal in assigning blame. "It is clearly the fault of the construction company," he stated.
Contractor's Troubled History Under Scrutiny
The incident has sparked public outrage as it was revealed the contractor, Italian-Thai Development PCL, was also the co-lead contractor on the State Audit Building in Bangkok. That high-rise collapsed in March 2025 during an earthquake originating in Myanmar, killing about 100 people.
Mr Anutin questioned why the firm had not been barred from state projects sooner, highlighting a pattern of repeated incidents. "It is time to change the law to blacklist construction companies that are repeatedly responsible for accidents," he declared. He also criticised the proposed compensation of 40,000 baht (approx. £950) per victim as "inadequate," suggesting millions of baht per family would be more appropriate.
The crash occurred on a section of a major high-speed rail project intended to connect China with Southeast Asia. Anan Phonimdaeng, acting governor of the State Railway of Thailand, confirmed Italian-Thai Development was the contractor, with a Chinese company responsible for design and supervision. Authorities will examine the responsibilities of both parties, with legal action planned against the contractor.
Political Context and Ongoing Investigations
The tragedy comes at a sensitive political time for Mr Anutin, who was recently picked by his Bhumjaithai Party as its candidate for prime minister in a general election scheduled for early February. He dissolved parliament earlier this month after his minority government faced a no-confidence vote.
In response to the crash, Italian-Thai Development PCL said it would take "full responsibility" and provide compensation and medical care. The Chinese foreign ministry stated it would investigate but noted the relevant section was being constructed by Thai companies.
In a grim postscript, a separate construction accident was reported on a road near Bangkok on Thursday, just 24 hours after the train disaster. Volunteer rescue services indicated at least one person was killed.
