NORTHEASTERN THAILAND – A catastrophic construction accident has claimed the lives of at least 28 people and left 64 others injured this Wednesday after a massive crane collapsed onto a moving passenger train in Norteastern Thailand.

​The disaster occurred at approximately 09:00 local time (02:00 GMT). The falling crane struck the train with enough force to cause a derailment and crush multiple carriages. One of the impacted cars caught fire shortly after the collision. Of the 195 passengers estimated to be on board, rescue teams successfully evacuated the survivors, though eight people remain in critical condition. Among the injured are a one-year-old infant and an 85-year-old passenger.

​The train was traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani when it passed the construction site of an overhead railway. The crane was being utilized for a China-backed infrastructure project designed to link Bangkok to Laos, eventually connecting with the existing high-speed rail line into southwestern China.

According to testimonies from eyewitnes, Survivor and staff member Thirasak Wongsoongnern described a scene of chaos, telling local media that the impact was so violent it launched passengers into the air as the crane tore through the carriages.

Following this incident, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has launched a formal investigation, emphasizing that such a tragedy points to a severe failure in oversight.

​”Accidents like this can only happen due to negligence, skipped steps, deviations from the design, or the use of incorrect materials,” the Prime Minister stated, vowing that those responsible will be held accountable.

​This incident is the latest in a series of fatal construction accidents in Thailand, reigniting national concerns regarding the weak enforcement of safety standards during large-scale infrastructure developments.