At least 22 people have died and 79 others are injured after construction crane collapsed onto moving train
At least 22 people have died and 79 others are injured after construction crane collapsed onto moving train
Several people have lost their lives and authorities have warned that the death toll could rise after a crane collapsed onto a train in Thailand.
At least 22 fatalities have been confirmed with 79 others sustaining injuries from the incident, according to police – many more are feared to be still trapped inside the train. Eight people are reported to be in a critical condition, the BBC reported.
A construction crane toppled onto a train travelling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province in north-eastern Thailand on Wednesday, 14 January. The train is thought to have been carrying 195 passengers, based on its seating capacity, though the precise figure may differ.
Authorities said the incident took place at approximately 9am in Sikhio district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, roughly 230 km (143 miles) northeast of Bangkok.
The crane had been operating on a railway project when it gave way and struck the train as it passed. The train came off the tracks and momentarily caught alight, according to the BBC.
Photographs issued by the Nakhon Ratchasima provincial government show a carriage lying on its side. A significant portion of the carriage’s upper section is blackened by fire, whilst the rear has sustained substantial damage. Wreckage is scattered alongside the track.
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Phipat Ratchakitprakarn, has demanded a “thorough and comprehensive investigation” into what caused the incident.
The department said in a Facebook post that the fire was under control and that rescuers were searching for people trapped inside the train.
- In The News
