At least 22 people were killed and more than 55 others injured after a construction crane collapsed onto a speeding passenger train in Thailand on Wednesday morning, IANS reported, citing Thai police. The incident occurred at around 9:05 am in the Sikhio district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, nearly 230 km northeast of Bangkok. The train was travelling from the Thai capital to Ubon Ratchathani province when the accident was reported.

The collapsed crane was part of a high-speed rail project valued at approximately $5.4 billion. Thailand has recorded several industrial and construction-related accidents in recent years.

Crane collapse hits passenger train in Thailand, 22 killed

According to preliminary information, the crane was being used at a construction site for a high-speed railway project, which was running parallel to the existing rail line. As the train passed through the area, the crane reportedly lost balance and collapsed, hitting one of the coaches.

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The impact caused several carriages to derail, while parts of the train briefly caught fire. The derailment and fire added to the damage and panic at the scene.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said he has “instructed relevant agencies to conduct a transparent and comprehensive investigation into the cause of the crane collapse and to take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future,” according to IANS.

He confirmed that around 195 passengers were on board the train. Authorities are currently identifying the victims and providing medical treatment to the injured, several of whom are reported to be in critical condition.

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Thailand train accident: Rescue operations underway

Videos shared on social media showed severe damage to the train, with rescue teams cutting through twisted metal to reach passengers trapped inside the derailed coaches. Firefighters, medical personnel and disaster response units were immediately deployed to carry out rescue and relief operations.

Thailand’s public relations department confirmed the incident on social media platform X, stating that multiple rescue teams were rushed to the site and that several passengers were trapped inside the carriages at the time of the collapse.