NAKHON RATCHASIMA — A passenger train traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani collided with a collapsed construction crane on Wednesday morning, killing at least 32 people and injuring many others, Khaosod English reported. Some victims are still trapped inside the carriages. The incident occurred at approximately 9:05 a.m. in Ban Thanon Kod, Sikhiu district.

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The special express train No. 21 was carrying 120 passengers and traveling at about 120 km/h when it struck the crane, which had fallen onto the tracks from an elevated railway bridge construction site. The impact derailed the train and caused additional construction materials to fall onto the carriages.

The crane first struck the train’s second carriage, which contained 40 passengers, sparking a fire. Emergency responders used hydraulic cutters to rescue trapped passengers, as the air-conditioned carriage’s electronic doors and windows could not be opened manually. Seventeen bodies were recovered from the second carriage, with five more reported still trapped inside, bringing the preliminary death toll to 32.

The injured passengers were transported to Sikhiu, Sung Noen, and Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima hospitals.

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — At least 32 people were killed and 64 others injured after a construction crane fell onto a moving train in this northeastern province on Wednesday morning.

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The construction site is part of Section 1 (Bangkok–Nakhon Ratchasima) of the Thai-Chinese High-Speed Railway project, a key component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has ordered the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to investigate the cause of the crane collapse.

Train services on the affected route have been disrupted, with special express trains No. 21 and 22 canceled and 14 other trains rerouted. An emergency center has been established at the site to assist passengers with alternate travel arrangements.

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Authorities continue to investigate the incident and assess safety protocols at infrastructure construction sites along active rail lines.

-Thailand News (TN)