At least 22 dead as crane collapses onto train in Thailand

At least 22 people were killed and nearly 80 others injured Wednesday morning when a massive construction crane collapsed onto a moving passenger train in northeast Thailand.

The accident occurred around 9:05 a.m. in the Sikhio district as the "Special Express Train No. 21" was traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani. According to authorities, a crane being used for a $5.4 billion high-speed rail project fell directly onto the passing carriages, causing a violent derailment and a brief fire. Rescue and Recovery Emergency teams used hydraulic cutting tools to reach passengers trapped within the mangled wreckage. "I heard a loud noise, like something sliding from above, followed by two explosions," said 54-year-old local resident Mitr Intrpanya, who witnessed the crane slice through the middle of a carriage. Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn confirmed that 195 passengers and staff were on board at the time of the collision. While the fire was quickly extinguished, the death toll is expected to rise as recovery efforts continue under the debris. Project Under Scrutiny The crane was part of a joint Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project under the Belt and Road Initiative, designed to link Bangkok with Kunming, China. This disaster marks the third major rail-related accident in Thailand in recent years, raising urgent questions about safety protocols at state-funded infrastructure sites. Minister Phiphat has ordered a "transparent and comprehensive" investigation into the cause of the collapse. For now, the site remains closed as investigators determine if mechanical failure or operator error led to the tragedy.