At least 22 people have been killed and more than 30 injured after a crane collapsed onto a passenger train in Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima province, triggering a derailment and fire, authorities confirmed.
The incident occurred when the crane, believed to be operating near the railway line, toppled onto the moving train. The impact caused several carriages to derail, with at least one carriage catching fire shortly afterward. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene, where thick smoke and flames hampered initial rescue efforts.
Police said the train was carrying dozens of passengers at the time of the crash. Survivors described moments of chaos as the train jolted violently before coming to a halt, followed by panic as fire spread through parts of the wreckage. Some passengers were able to escape on their own, while others were pulled from damaged carriages by first responders and residents.
Rescue teams, including firefighters, medical personnel, and disaster response units, worked for hours to extinguish the blaze and search for survivors trapped inside the train. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, where several remain in critical condition, according to local health officials.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine what caused the crane to collapse. Early assessments are focusing on whether safety protocols were followed at the worksite and if proper clearance was maintained between construction equipment and active rail lines. Officials have not yet confirmed whether mechanical failure, human error, or structural issues were involved.
The crash has raised fresh concerns about rail safety and construction oversight in areas where infrastructure projects operate close to active transport routes. Thailand’s rail network is widely used for both long-distance and regional travel, and any disruption can have serious consequences for passenger safety.
Government representatives expressed condolences to the victims’ families and said support would be provided to those affected. Rail services through the area have been suspended as investigators examine the site and crews work to clear debris and repair damaged tracks.
Images from the scene showed twisted metal, charred carriages, and emergency crews working amid the wreckage, underscoring the scale of the tragedy. The incident is being described as one of the deadliest rail accidents in the region in recent years.
As investigations continue, authorities are expected to review safety measures around rail-adjacent construction projects to prevent similar disasters. For now, the focus remains on treating the injured, identifying victims, and determining how a routine journey turned into a deadly accident within moments.
