Bangkok, Jan 16: At least 30 people were killed and dozens injured Wednesday when a construction crane collapsed onto a moving passenger train in northeastern Thailand, triggering a fiery derailment.The accident occurred in Nakhon Ratchasima province on a section of a planned Thai-Chinese high-speed railway that is intended to eventually link China with Southeast Asia.
Authorities said the train was travelling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani when the crane, used to build an elevated railway segment, fell onto the tracks.
Provincial Governor Anuphong Suksomnit said 171 passengers were believed to have been on board, with four still missing hours after the crash as rescuers searched the wreckage.
Images from the scene showed thick smoke rising above overturned and mangled train carriages, some torn open by the impact.
Sections of the crane were scattered along the tracks, while rescue workers climbed over wreckage to extract survivors. Video from public broadcaster ThaiPBS showed responders standing atop overturned cars with gaping holes in their sides.
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn ordered an investigation into the cause of the collapse.
The incident has renewed concerns over safety on the high-speed rail project, particularly after a railway tunnel on the same route collapsed in August 2024, killing three workers.
Heavy rainfall was believed to have contributed to that earlier accident. The elevated rail section is part of a two-stage Thai-Chinese railway linking Bangkok with Nong Khai province near the Lao border.
The project, costing more than 520 billion baht (USD 16.8 billion), is a key component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Anan Phonimdaeng, acting governor of the State Railway of Thailand, said Italian-Thai Development is the project’s main contractor, with a Chinese company overseeing design and construction supervision.
Authorities are examining responsibility and plan legal action against the contractor. Damage to the train was estimated at more than 100 million baht.
Italian-Thai Development expressed condolences and said it would compensate victims’ families and cover medical expenses.
Public anger has intensified because the company was also a co-lead contractor on Bangkok’s State Audit Building, which collapsed during construction in March following an earthquake in Myanmar, killing about 100 people.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing was aware of the incident, offered condolences, and stressed that project safety was a priority as investigations continue.