28 Killed As Construction Crane Falls On Moving Train
At least 28 people have been killed and dozens injured after a construction crane collapsed on a moving passenger train in central Thailand on Wednesday morning.
The accident happened at about 9:00am local time in Nakhon Ratchasima province, as the train was travelling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani in northeastern Thailand.
Officials said the train was carrying about 195 passengers, many of them students and workers commuting to school and workplaces.
Emergency services confirmed that no fewer than 64 people were injured, with at least seven in critical condition. Among the victims are a one-year-old child and several elderly passengers.
A member of staff on board described moments of chaos as the crane struck the train.
“When the crane fell, we were all thrown into the air. “I tried to help passengers, but one of the carriages was already on fire, ” Thirasak Wongsoongnern, told Thai news outlet, Thairath Online.
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Authorities said the crane was part of a high-speed rail project linking Thailand with China.
However, the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok clarified that no Chinese companies or workers were involved in the section where the collapse occurred, adding that the site was being handled by a Thai contractor.
The collision caused at least one carriage to derail and another to catch fire, forcing rescue workers to climb over damaged coaches to reach trapped passengers. All travellers have since been evacuated from the scene.
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has ordered a full investigation into the incident and called for those responsible to be “punished and held accountable.”
“Someone must be punished and held accountable for this tragedy,” Charnvirakul said, adding that accidents like this usually happen because of “negligence, skipped steps or the use of incorrect materials.”
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The governor of the State Railway of Thailand, Veeris Ammarapala, said an investigation would be carried out “thoroughly and comprehensively” to determine the exact cause of the collapse.
