A routine rail trip across northeastern Thailand exploded into chaos Wednesday morning when a massive construction crane collapsed onto a passing passenger train. The impact ripped open two carriages, ignited a brief fire, and left at least 32 people dead. Sixty-six more were injured, according to regional officials.
The crash happened in Sikhio, a district in Nakhon Ratchasima province, roughly 140 miles northeast of Bangkok. The train had been headed from the capital toward Ubon Ratchathani, a popular route packed with commuters, students, and families returning home after the holidays.
Witnesses described the moment the crane came down as “instant devastation.”
“The sky just filled with smoke,” said Somchai Rattanapong, a food vendor who saw the wreck from the nearby road. “The train was dragging metal. People were screaming for help.”
Thailand’s transport minister, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, told reporters the train carried 195 passengers. He called the scene “one of the worst rail disasters in recent memory” and ordered an immediate investigation.
Officials say the crane belonged to a high-speed rail construction project—part of a massive international effort designed to link Bangkok with southern China through Laos. The crane had been operating above the active rail line when it suddenly gave way.
Firefighters and rescue teams fought flames and heavy smoke as they pulled survivors from twisted metal. Early footage verified by Reuters showed rescuers climbing through mangled compartments as injured passengers were rushed to ambulances.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the wreckage and vowed accountability.
“We need to investigate and take legal action,” he said. “Families of the victims must receive proper compensation. This is unacceptable.”
The construction contractor, Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited, said it was “deeply saddened” by the tragedy. The company has faced scrutiny before. In 2025, a 30-story Bangkok building under one of its joint ventures collapsed after a major Myanmar earthquake. Eighty-nine people were killed. Several executives, including company president Premchai Karnasuta, were indicted on allegations of negligence.
Critics say Wednesday’s disaster now raises new questions about Thailand’s rush to complete its high-speed rail ambitions.
“This project has been plagued with delays, cost overruns, and safety concerns,” said Dr. Chaiwat Srithep, a transportation analyst at Thammasat University. “When you build above an active rail line, mistakes can be deadly.”
Debris from the fallen crane still dangled over the tracks late Wednesday as crews worked to clear the major corridor. Authorities say the line must reopen by the end of the week to avoid serious economic disruption across the region.
The Thai government said last year that roughly one-third of the Bangkok-to-Nakhon Ratchasima segment had been completed, with the entire connection to the Laos border targeted for 2030. Once finished, it will plug Thailand directly into China’s expanding network of international high-speed rail routes.
China’s Foreign Ministry said it was monitoring the situation. “The cause of the accident is still under investigation,” spokesperson Mao Ning said. “Safety remains a top priority.”
But for families in Sikhio, the priority Wednesday was far more immediate. Many waited outside hospitals for updates. Some already knew the worst.
“My wife was on that train,” said Anurak P., who arrived at a local emergency center clutching a photo. “She was traveling to see her sister. I still don’t know if she’s alive. No one can tell me anything.”
Recovery teams worked through the night as rain began to fall across the crash site, mixing with smoke and dust from the ruined carriages.
One rescue worker summed up the scene quietly: “It was supposed to be a normal morning. Instead, it became a nightmare.”
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