Horrific Tragedy
Deadly Crane Collapse Derails Passenger Train in Thailand, Killing At Least 19 | WATCH
Eyewitness accounts described scenes of chaos, with passengers scrambling from the derailed cars amid smoke and debris. "It was like an earthquake, the whole train shook, and then everything went dark," one survivor told local media.
A catastrophic accident unfolded in Thailand's Sikhio district on Wednesday morning when a construction crane collapsed onto a moving passenger train, causing it to derail and sparking a brief fire. At least 19 people were killed, and dozens more injured in the incident, which has prompted an urgent investigation into safety protocols at the site of an ongoing high-speed rail project.
The State Railway of Thailand's Express Train No. 21, en route from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani in the northeast with approximately 195-200 passengers aboard, was struck around 9:05 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) as it passed under a bridge construction zone in Nakhon Ratchasima province, about 230 km (143 miles) northeast of the capital. The crane, which was lifting a section of the bridge as part of Thailand's high-speed rail expansion, toppled across the tracks, crushing three carriages and derailing several others.
Initial reports from rescue officials indicate 19-22 fatalities, primarily among passengers in the impacted carriages, with 30-80 others sustaining injuries ranging from minor to severe. Some victims were trapped in the mangled wreckage, requiring heavy machinery for extraction. A fire erupted in at least one carriage but was quickly extinguished by responding firefighters. Emergency teams, including medical personnel and police, rushed to the scene, evacuating survivors and transporting the injured to nearby hospitals.
Thai Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungruangkit confirmed the details in a press briefing, expressing condolences and vowing a thorough probe. The State Railway of Thailand and local police have launched an investigation into the crane's failure, with preliminary speculation pointing to possible mechanical issues, operator error, or structural weaknesses in the construction setup. The high-speed rail project, aimed at modernizing Thailand's infrastructure, has faced scrutiny over safety standards in the past, though no prior incidents of this scale have been reported.
Rail services in the area have been suspended as cleanup and recovery efforts continue, with authorities warning of potential delays in the northeast corridor.