By: The Trek News Desk
A tragic rail accident occurred in Thailand’s north-eastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima on Wednesday morning, after a massive construction crane collapsed onto a moving passenger train. The train was travelling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani when the incident took place, leaving at least 22 people dead, according to local authorities.
Police officials said the accident happened at around 9:00 am local time (02:00 GMT) in the Sikhio district’s Ban Thanon Khot area, approximately 230 kilometres north-east of the Thai capital. The train was running at normal speed when the crane, being used for an under-construction high-speed rail project, suddenly collapsed and struck one of the coaches.
The impact caused the train to derail, and one of the carriages briefly caught fire, leading to panic among passengers. Nakhon Ratchasima Police Superintendent Thatchapon Chinnawong confirmed that rescue teams have so far recovered 22 bodies from the wreckage. Several other passengers sustained injuries and have been shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos immediately after the crash, with emergency sirens and smoke visible from a distance. Firefighters, medical teams and rescue workers rushed to the site and began efforts to free passengers trapped inside the damaged coaches. Authorities have warned that the death toll could rise further as search operations continue.
The crane involved in the accident was reportedly part of construction work on a fast rail corridor linking the Lao border with Bangkok. Following the incident, rail services on the affected route have been suspended temporarily.
The Thai administration has ordered a detailed investigation into the collapse of the crane to determine the exact cause of the accident and assess safety lapses in the ongoing rail construction project.
Source: News Agencies
