At least 28 people have been killed and 64 injured after a construction crane fell onto a passenger train in northeast Thailand. The incident occurred on Wednesday in the Sikhio district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, about 230 kilometres northeast of Bangkok. The train was travelling from the capital to Ubon Ratchathani province when it derailed and briefly caught fire.
The crane was part of a joint Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project and fell from elevated track construction onto the moving train. Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said 195 passengers were on board, with fatalities concentrated in two of the three carriages struck by the crane. Rescue teams are using heavy equipment to free trapped passengers from the wreckage.
Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud noise followed by explosions as the crane fell, slicing through part of the train. Authorities are continuing to clear the site, and officials warned the death toll may rise as the rescue operation continues.
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Industrial and construction accidents are common in Thailand, with previous train and building incidents causing multiple casualties in recent years. Investigations into safety procedures for the high-speed rail project have been ordered as authorities work to prevent further accidents.
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