At least 28 people were killed when a construction crane fell on a moving passenger train in northeastern Thailand, derailing carriages and setting one carriage on fire, officials said.
According to official records, the train was traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province when the crane fell on the track at around 09:00 local time. There were about 195 passengers on board the plane at that time.
Also read: Anutin Charnvirakul elected Prime Minister of Thailand
Rescue teams pulled all the passengers from the wreckage, while 64 injured people were taken to hospitals across the region. The condition of eight of them remains critical. The injured include a one-year-old child and an 85-year-old adult.
The crane was part of construction work on an overhead railway linked to a China-backed project aimed at linking Bangkok with neighboring Laos. Laos is already connected by a Chinese-built high-speed rail line that runs to southwestern China.
Also read: Ebonyi government drives food security, partners with Thailand in rice, livestock production
One survivor, train staff member Thirasak Wongsongern, described the moment of impact. “When the crane came under the train, we jumped into the air,” he told local media.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered an immediate investigation and demanded accountability. “Someone needs to be punished and held accountable,” he said. “Such accidents can occur simply due to carelessness, skipped steps, deviation from design or use of wrong materials.”
Also read: Nigeria's power sector burns more cash than it generates power
Thailand has seen a series of fatal construction and transportation accidents in recent years, often attributed to weak enforcement of safety regulations.
The BBC reported that pressure is growing on the government to tighten security oversight as major infrastructure projects expand across the country
