A devastating train accident in northeastern Thailand has left at least 25 people dead and dozens injured after a construction crane collapsed onto a moving passenger train on Wednesday morning.
The crash occurred in the Sikhio area of Nakhon Ratchasima province, around 230 kilometres from Bangkok, as a train travelling from the capital to Ubon Ratchathani passed beneath an elevated construction site. The crane, which was being used to build a high-speed rail line, suddenly gave way and struck three train carriages, forcing the train off the tracks and triggering a brief fire.
Officials said there were 195 passengers on board at the time. Most of the victims were seated in two carriages that absorbed the full impact, according to Thailand’s transport ministry. Emergency crews were quickly dispatched, and the fire was extinguished soon after the derailment.
Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud crash followed by explosions, before seeing smoke rising from the wreckage. Footage from the scene showed several carriages lying on their sides as rescue teams worked to pull survivors from the debris. One resident said the falling crane tore through the middle of a carriage, leaving it severely damaged.
The crane was part of an elevated high-speed railway project being built above the existing rail line. Parts of the structure remain suspended at the site, supported by temporary pillars. Authorities have sealed off the area while investigations continue.
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said a full inquiry has been ordered to determine how the crane collapsed and whether safety procedures were followed. Chinese officials also said they were reviewing the incident, noting that while the railway project will eventually link Thailand to China through Laos, the construction work involved in this accident was being handled by a Thai contractor.
The high-speed rail line forms part of a wider regional network tied to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Government updates indicate that the Bangkok–Nakhon Ratchasima section is partly complete, with the full route to the Laos border expected to be finished by 2030.
This tragedy comes amid ongoing safety concerns surrounding the project. In 2024, a tunnel collapse along the same route in Nakhon Ratchasima killed three construction workers, drawing criticism over construction oversight.
Rescue operations have now transitioned into recovery efforts as investigators work to establish the cause of the collapse. The incident has reignited debate over infrastructure safety in Thailand, particularly as major transport projects continue to expand across the country.
Sources: Guardian, Dw News, Reuters
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