Construction crane falls on passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima; dozens injured amid China-backed rail project
A tragic accident occurred on a China-backed high-speed rail project in Thailand, where a construction crane collapsed onto a passenger train, causing it to derail. The incident, which took place in Nakhon Ratchasima province on Wednesday, has claimed at least 22 lives and left over 80 people injured, some in critical condition. Authorities warn that the death toll could rise.
Eyewitnesses reported a loud noise followed by two explosions as the crane’s metal structure fell onto the train, splitting one carriage into two parts and triggering a fire. Rescue teams worked to extract passengers from overturned carriages, but operations were temporarily halted due to a potential chemical leak.
The train, traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani, carried 195 passengers. Thai authorities have launched a full investigation, and identification of the deceased is ongoing. The $5.4 billion project, connecting Thailand to China’s Kunming via Laos, is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Industrial and construction accidents have a history in Thailand, often linked to lapses in safety compliance, making this latest tragedy a sobering reminder of the risks involved in large-scale infrastructure projects.
