Crane collapse derails train, kills 22 in Thailand

January 14, 2026 / 9:03 AM

Sharjah24-AFP: At least 22 people were killed and more than 30 were injured when a crane collapsed onto a passenger train in northeastern Thailand on Wednesday, causing the train to derail and catch fire, according to local authorities.

The accident occurred around 9:00 am local time in Nakhon Ratchasima province, when a crane being used in the construction of a high-speed rail line fell onto a passenger train travelling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani. Live footage broadcast by local media showed the derailed train lying on its side, with smoke rising from the wreckage, as rescue teams rushed to the scene.

Casualties and response

Local police confirmed that 195 passengers were on board at the time of the incident. Authorities have begun identifying the victims and providing medical assistance to the injured. Transport officials said that emergency services and investigators were deployed immediately to assess the cause of the collapse.

Major infrastructure project

The crane was part of work on a US$5.4 billion high-speed rail project backed by China, intended to link Thailand with Kunming via Laos by 2028 under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Safety concerns

Industrial and construction-related accidents remain a persistent problem in Thailand, where weak enforcement of safety regulations has frequently been cited as a contributing factor in deadly incidents.