A crane being used in the construction of a China-backed high-speed rail project in Thailand collapsed onto a passenger train on Wednesday morning, causing the train to derail and catch fire and leaving at least 22 people dead, authorities said.
The incident occurred at about 9:00 a.m. in Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeast of Bangkok, as a passenger train was travelling from the capital to Ubon Ratchathani province. According to local officials, the crane fell directly onto the train during ongoing construction work along the rail corridor.
“Twenty-two people were killed and more than 30 others were injured,” Nakhon Ratchasima police chief Thatchapon Chinnawong told AFP, adding that emergency teams were still working at the scene.
In a statement, the provincial public relations department said the impact caused the train to derail and ignite, prompting a large-scale rescue operation. Footage broadcast by local media showed the brightly coloured train lying on its side amid debris, with smoke rising as rescue workers rushed to assist survivors.
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said 195 passengers were on board at the time of the accident and that authorities were working to identify the victims and notify their families.
The crane was part of a USD 5.4 billion project to develop Thailand’s high-speed rail network, backed by China, which aims to link Bangkok to Kunming in southern China via Laos by 2028. The project is a key component of Beijing’s broader Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.
Industrial and construction-related accidents remain a persistent problem in Thailand, where critics have long pointed to weak enforcement of safety regulations as a contributing factor to deadly incidents. Authorities have not yet said whether construction practices or safety lapses played a role in Wednesday’s collapse.
