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Death toll rises to 32 in tragic express train accident
A construction crane collapsed onto a passenger train in northeast Thailand, killing at least 29 people and injuring dozens. The derailment caused the train to catch fire, and rescuers are working to free trapped passengers.
At least 32 people lost their lives, and dozens were injured when a construction crane collapsed onto a passenger train in northeast Thailand, causing the train to derail and catch fire. Rescue teams are working to free passengers still trapped inside.
A tragic train crash occurred yesterday in Sikhiu district, Nakhon Ratchasima, leading to at least 32 fatalities and three passengers still unaccounted for. The incident, considered one of the deadliest construction accidents in the country’s history, involved the Special Express 21, which was struck by a falling section of a massive crane operating on the high-speed rail project.
The accident happened around 9 am when a crane, belonging to Italian-Thai Development Plc and involved in lifting components for a high-speed rail bridge, collapsed onto the Ubon Ratchathani-bound train. Carrying 208 passengers from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, the train was travelling at approximately 120 kilometres per hour near Ban Thanon Kot.
The impact caused the train to derail and catch fire, destroying three carriages, with the second coach suffering the most severe damage and trapping many victims. Many of the victims’ bodies were burned beyond recognition due to the fire, with identification efforts expected to take three to four days. Emergency medical teams and firefighters were on-site to extract bodies, treat the injured, and transport them to hospitals.
