Thailand is facing renewed scrutiny over construction safety following a second accident near Bangkok on Thursday, just a day after a crane toppled onto a moving passenger train in the northeast, killing at least 32 people.
The latest incident occurred at a construction site for the Rama 2 Road elevated expressway in Samut Sakhon province around 9 a.m., where a crane collapsed onto the road, trapping two vehicles beneath massive metal girders. While official reports have not confirmed fatalities, Fire & Rescue Thailand noted at least one death on its Facebook page. The project, an extension of a key artery leading from Bangkok, has been linked to multiple accidents in recent years, some of them fatal.
Meanwhile, rescue operations for the Nakhon Ratchasima train accident concluded Wednesday night. Authorities reported that three passengers initially listed as missing were presumed to have disembarked earlier. The three-carriage train, which had 171 people aboard, was being removed from the site Thursday. The fallen crane, identified as a launching gantry crane used for elevated road construction, derailed and crushed parts of the train.
South Korea confirmed that a national in his late 30s was among the victims, with the government providing consular support to the family. Thai authorities continue to verify passenger details, collect evidence, and interview relevant parties; no charges have been filed yet.
The high-speed rail project involved is part of a two-stage development costing over 520 billion baht ($16.8 billion), aiming to connect China with Southeast Asia under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. Italian-Thai Development (Italthai) serves as the contractor, while a Chinese firm handles design and construction supervision. Italthai expressed condolences to victims and pledged compensation for hospitalisation and family losses.
The accidents have fueled public outrage, particularly since Italthai co-led the construction of Bangkok’s State Audit Building, which collapsed during a major earthquake in March 2025, killing around 100 people. Chinese company involvement in Thai infrastructure projects has also drawn attention amid repeated construction mishaps.
The Rama 2 Road accident adds to mounting concerns over safety practices in Thailand’s fast-growing infrastructure projects, highlighting the risks posed by inadequate supervision and lax enforcement of safety regulations. Authorities are yet to confirm which companies were directly responsible for Thursday’s crane collapse.
