A tragic incident has unfolded in northeastern Thailand, where a construction crane collapsed onto a moving train, resulting in the loss of at least 19 lives and injuring around 80 others. This catastrophic event occurred on Wednesday morning in the Sikhio district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, located approximately 230 kilometers (or 143 miles) northeast of Bangkok. The train was en route from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province when it was struck by the crane.
Local authorities reported that there may still be additional victims trapped within the wreckage, as recovery efforts faced challenges. Police Colonel Thatchapon Chinnawong communicated over the phone that, "Nineteen bodies have been recovered, but there are still some inside the train carriages that cannot be removed yet because the crane started shifting, so the team pulled back for fear of danger."
In response to this tragic event, Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced that there were a total of 195 passengers aboard the train and emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. According to him, the fatalities were primarily among those passengers in two of the three carriages that were directly impacted by the falling crane.
The crane was reportedly part of a high-speed rail construction project, which was underway at the time of the accident. As the crane collapsed, it struck the train, leading to its derailment and causing a brief fire outbreak. Images released by the transport ministry depicted overturned train carriages next to shrubbery, with firefighters working diligently to extinguish the flames as smoke billowed from the scene.
This elevated high-speed rail line is one of several such projects currently being developed in Thailand, designed to be constructed above existing rail tracks. The situation continues to unfold, and this article has been updated with the latest available information.
