In a tragic turn of events on January 14, 2026, a construction crane collapsed onto a moving passenger train in the Sikhio district of Nakhon Ratchasima, northeast Thailand, resulting in at least 32 fatalities and more than 60 injuries. The accident, which unfolded around 9 a.m. local time, has sent shockwaves through Thailand and reignited concerns over construction safety standards in the rapidly developing nation.
The train, traveling from Bangkok to the northeastern Ubon Ratchathani province, was carrying between 171 and 195 passengers, according to varying official accounts. The incident occurred along a stretch of rail that has been under construction for nearly a decade as part of an ambitious Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project designed to link the Thai capital with neighboring Laos and, ultimately, much of Southeast Asia. This project, with a total investment exceeding 520 billion baht (about $16.8 billion), has been hailed as a symbol of regional connectivity. But Wednesday's catastrophe has cast a long shadow over its progress and safety record.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos and horror. Local resident Mitr Intrpanya, 54, recounted to AFP, "At around 9am, I heard a loud noise, like something sliding down from above, followed by two explosions. When I went to see what had happened, I found the crane sitting on a passenger train with three carriages. The metal from the crane appeared to strike the middle of the second carriage, slicing it in half." Another witness, Maliwan Nakthon, told BBC Thai, "There were small pieces, like fragments of concrete, that started falling. After those fell, the crane slowly slid down and hit. It struck hard, and then it came down and crushed the train. The whole incident took less than one minute."
Images from the scene, circulated by Thai media and the State Railway of Thailand, showed mangled train carriages, some with gaping holes, and plumes of smoke rising above the wreckage. Rescue workers scrambled atop overturned railcars, pulling survivors from the twisted metal. Among the injured were a one-year-old child and an 85-year-old, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the disaster. Seven people remained in critical condition as of Wednesday evening, while three passengers were still unaccounted for.
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn spoke to the gravity of the situation, stating that a full investigation had been ordered. "Those killed were in two of the three carriages hit by the crane," he confirmed, according to Al Jazeera. As rescue operations continued into the night, the death toll fluctuated in media reports, with numbers ranging from 28 to 32. The train itself suffered damage estimated at over 100 million baht (approximately $3.2 million), while the construction equipment involved sustained only limited harm.
The crane that triggered the disaster was a launching gantry crane—a massive, self-supporting structure commonly used to build elevated roads and railways. At the time of the accident, it was lifting a large concrete section for the overhead railway when it fell onto the moving train, causing a derailment and briefly igniting a fire in one of the carriages. The route where the accident occurred is heavily used, serving as a major artery for students and workers commuting across the region.
The Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited, one of Thailand's largest contractors, was responsible for the construction of the segment where the accident took place, with a Chinese company overseeing design and construction supervision. The company quickly issued a statement expressing condolences to the victims and pledging to compensate the families of the deceased as well as cover hospitalization expenses for the injured. "We express regret and will provide compensation and relief to the families of those who died or were injured," the company said, as reported by BBC.
The State Railway of Thailand wasted no time in announcing legal action against the construction company. Anan Phonimdaeng, acting governor of the State Railway, stated that operations at the site had been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. "Authorities will examine the responsibilities of both parties, and the Railway Department plans to take legal action against the contractor as a first step," he said.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the crash site later in the day, called for accountability. "Accidents like this can only happen due to negligence, skipped steps, deviations from the design, or the use of incorrect materials," he declared. "Someone must be punished and held accountable for the incident." The Prime Minister's remarks echoed the public's growing frustration with repeated construction mishaps in Thailand—a country where industrial and construction site accidents remain all too common.
This latest tragedy has also reignited scrutiny of Italian-Thai Development's safety record. The company was the co-lead contractor for a high-rise building in Bangkok that collapsed during an earthquake in March 2025, killing more than 100 people. Charges of professional negligence were filed against several executives and engineers in connection with that disaster, though none have yet stood trial. The firm has also been linked to other infrastructure accidents, including expressway extension mishaps in and around the Thai capital.
In the wake of Wednesday's accident, the role of Chinese companies in the high-speed rail project has also come under the microscope. The Chinese embassy in Thailand issued a statement, as reported by Chinese state media, clarifying that "no Chinese construction companies or workers were involved in the collapse." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning added, "The Chinese government attaches great importance to the safety of projects and personnel, and we are also learning about the situation. At present, it appears that the relevant section is being constructed by a Thai company, and the cause of the accident is still under investigation."
Thailand’s troubled history with construction safety is not new. In 2023, a freight train killed eight people when it struck a pick-up truck at a railway crossing. Three years earlier, another train accident claimed at least 18 lives when a freight train collided with a bus. Over the last seven years, more than 150 people have died in accidents linked to a major road improvement project from Bangkok to southern Thailand. Experts and advocates have long cited weak enforcement of safety standards as a root cause of such tragedies.
The high-speed rail project, a flagship element of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Southeast Asia, was originally slated to begin operations in 2027. The section where the accident occurred had a budget of more than 179 billion baht ($5.7 billion). Now, with operations suspended and a comprehensive investigation underway, the timeline for completion is uncertain.
For many Thais, the events of January 14 are a painful reminder of the human cost of rapid development without adequate safeguards. As the families of the victims mourn and the nation demands answers, the future of Thailand’s infrastructure ambitions—and the safety of those who rely on them—hangs in the balance.
