A second catastrophic construction crane collapse in Thailand within 48 hours has left two people dead and intensified a national crisis over safety standards on major infrastructure projects.
Second tragedy strikes near Bangkok
On Thursday 15 January 2026, a crane involved in building an elevated highway in Samut Sakhon, just outside Bangkok, crashed onto the busy Rama II Road below. This key route connects the capital to southern Thailand.
Police confirmed the falling structure crushed two vehicles, killing two people and injuring at least five others. Emergency services cordoned off the area as investigators began sifting through the wreckage.
Same contractor linked to back-to-back disasters
The latest accident came just one day after a separate crane from a high-speed rail construction site fell onto a moving passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima. Authorities stated that Wednesday's disaster killed 32 people and injured 66 others, derailing a train travelling between Bangkok and Ubon Ratchathani.
Acting Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn revealed a shocking connection between the two incidents. He told the Bangkok Post that the construction work in both cases was being handled by the same firm: Italian-Thai Development Plc, one of the country's largest construction companies.
"Yes, it is Italian-Thai. I still do not understand what happened," the minister said, adding that officials must "find out the facts, whether it was an accident or something else."
Mounting scrutiny and public anger
The consecutive tragedies have fuelled public fury and a fierce debate about safety oversight, contractor accountability, and the enforcement of building regulations in Thailand. The Rama II Road corridor, where Thursday's collapse occurred, has been plagued by serious incidents.
- In April 2025, an engineer was killed when concrete slabs fell from an overhead structure onto his pickup truck on the same highway project.
- Weeks later, a fallen cable damaged several vehicles on the route.
Following the train disaster, caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul demanded accountability from the State Railway of Thailand. He questioned why the contractor had not been blacklisted despite a history of similar accidents.
Italian-Thai Development PCL has stated it will take "full responsibility" for Wednesday's rail accident and provide compensation and medical care to victims' families. Police are collecting evidence and considering criminal charges for both incidents.
Transport officials have pledged urgent reviews of safety procedures across major construction sites, with initial findings expected soon. For now, traffic on Rama II Road remains severely disrupted as a shocked nation mourns and demands answers.
