Thailand, January 14, 2026, 02:34 p.m. IST
At least 22 killed and dozens injured after a crane collapsed onto a passenger train in Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima province, raising urgent questions about construction safety and infrastructure oversight.
A tragic accident struck Thailand’s railway system on Tuesday morning when a construction crane collapsed onto a passenger train in Sikhio district, leaving at least 22 people dead and dozens more injured.
The Incident
The train, traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani with nearly 200 passengers onboard, was passing through an area where a double‑track railway project was under construction. At approximately 9:05 a.m. local time, a crane being used for the project toppled onto the moving train. Three carriages were crushed, causing the train to derail, and one carriage briefly caught fire before rescue teams arrived.
🚨 Deputy Prime Minister Orders Urgent Probe After Construction Crane Collapses onto Passenger Train, Expresses Deep Condolences
— Thai Train Guide (@ThaiTrainGuide) January 14, 2026
Bangkok, 14 January 2026 — Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, has ordered an immediate and… pic.twitter.com/XxKgL85U7X
Casualties and Rescue Efforts
Authorities confirmed that 22 passengers lost their lives, while between 55 and 79 others sustained injuries, many of them serious. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, pulling survivors from the wreckage and transporting the injured to nearby hospitals. Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze, preventing further loss of life. Officials have warned that the death toll may rise as recovery operations continue.
Possible Cause
Preliminary investigations suggest that the train may have snagged the crane’s cable, destabilizing the heavy machinery and triggering the collapse. Safety experts are now examining whether construction protocols were properly followed and if coordination between railway operations and construction crews was adequate.
Government Response
Thailand’s Transport Ministry has ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin expressed condolences to the victims’ families and pledged accountability, stating that “no compromise on safety will be tolerated in national infrastructure projects.”
Wider Implications
The accident casts a shadow over Thailand’s ambitious high‑speed rail expansion, a flagship project aimed at modernizing the country’s transport network. Public confidence in construction safety standards is expected to face intense scrutiny in the coming weeks.
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