Thailand: Crane collapses onto train, 22 killed.
On the morning of January 14th, a particularly serious traffic accident occurred in Nakhon Ratchasima province (Northeast Thailand) when a crane working on a high-speed rail project suddenly collapsed onto a passenger train traveling below. The incident resulted in at least 22 deaths and 80 injuries.
The accident occurred at approximately 9:00 AM (local time) in Sikhio district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, about 230km northeast of Bangkok.
The train involved in the accident was traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province. According to local police, a giant crane working on an elevated high-speed rail project suddenly collapsed, crushing the train cars below.
The powerful collision caused the train to derail and burst into flames shortly afterward. Images from the scene show the steel structure of the crane bent and broken, lying on top of massive concrete pillars, while thick black smoke billows from the wreckage of the train below.
Mitr Intrpanya (54 years old), a shocked witness at the scene, recounted to AFP: "Around 9 a.m., I heard a loud noise like something sliding down from above, followed by two loud explosions. When I ran out to see, I saw the crane had fallen on the three-car train. The metal from the crane seemed to have struck the middle of the second car, cutting it in half."
Immediately after receiving the report, authorities and medical personnel quickly arrived at the scene. The fire was subsequently brought under control.
Speaking to the press, Colonel Thatchapon Chinnawong, the local district police chief, confirmed that as of that afternoon, 22 people had died and 80 were injured.
However, rescue efforts are facing major obstacles. Mr. Thatchapon said that rescue teams have been forced to temporarily halt access to deeper inside due to the discovery of chemical leaks at the scene and the unstable structure of the collapsed crane, posing a risk of further movement and endangering the rescue team.
"We have found many bodies, but some victims are still trapped in the train carriage and cannot be removed immediately for safety reasons," Thatchapon added.
Thailand's Transport Minister, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, stated that there were a total of 195 passengers on board at the time of the accident. He extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and instructed relevant authorities to promptly identify the deceased and investigate the cause of the incident.
Reportedly, the crane involved in the accident was being used in the construction of a high-speed rail project running parallel to and above the existing railway line. Once completed, trains will be able to operate at speeds up to 250 km/h.
Previously, in 2020, in Thailand, an accident between a freight train and a bus carrying passengers on a pilgrimage also resulted in at least 18 deaths and more than 40 injuries.
