BANGKOK: At least 22 people have died in a devastating train accident in Thailand after a construction crane fell onto the tracks, causing a passenger train to derail. Dozens of others were injured in the incident.
The accident occurred on Wednesday morning around 9:00 AM local time in Sikhiu district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, approximately 230 km northeast of Bangkok. The train was traveling from Bangkok toward the northeastern region of the country. Rescue teams and local police are actively engaged at the site.
How the Accident Happened
Authorities reported that the derailment took place at a construction site for a high-speed rail line. As the train approached, a crane used for bridge construction toppled directly onto the train, causing several carriages to derail. Some carriages caught fire, though officials have confirmed that the fire has since been brought under control.
The Thai government issued a statement on social media, confirming that the crane struck the passenger train at 9:05 AM in Sikhiu, Nakhon Ratchasima. More than 30 passengers were injured, with several trapped inside the derailed carriages. Multiple rescue teams have been dispatched to assist the victims.
Casualties and Response
Thai police confirmed the death toll at 22, with 79 others injured, eight of them in critical condition. The train was carrying 195 passengers according to seating records, although the exact number on board may vary. Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Pipat Rachakitprakarn has ordered a full and comprehensive investigation into the cause of the accident.
The incident marks one of the deadliest train accidents in Thailand in recent years, raising concerns about construction safety near operational railway lines.
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