A construction crane has collapsed onto a passenger train in north-eastern Thailand, killing at least 28 people and injuring dozens more in one of the country’s deadliest rail accidents in recent years.
The crane struck the moving train at around 9am local time as it was travelling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province, causing several carriages to derail. One carriage was crushed and later caught fire. Officials said about 195 passengers were on board at the time of the crash.
Rescue teams evacuated all passengers from the wreckage, with 64 people taken to hospitals across the region. Eight of the injured are in critical condition, including a one-year-old child and an 85-year-old.
The crane was being used in the construction of an elevated railway forming part of a China-backed infrastructure project linking Bangkok with neighbouring Laos, where a Chinese-built high-speed rail line already connects to south-western China.
A train staff member, Thirasak Wongsoongnern, told local media that passengers were violently thrown into the air when the crane fell onto the train.
The Thai government has ordered a full investigation into the incident. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said those responsible must be held to account, describing the crash as the result of negligence, construction shortcuts, design deviations, or the use of improper materials.
Thailand has experienced repeated fatal construction accidents in recent years, often attributed to poor safety oversight and weak enforcement of regulations.
🚨 Thailand Train Tragedy: Crane Collapse Kills 22!
– Crane on rail project collapses onto passing train
– At least 22 dead in Sikhio district, northeast Thailand
– Rescue operations underway after fire extinguished#ThailandCrash #TrainDerailment pic.twitter.com/LX9Tb7soiX— Voice Of Bharat 🇮🇳🌍 (@Kunal_Mechrules) January 14, 2026
