Bangkok (EFE).- Rescuers were searching Wednesday afternoon for some five people still missing after a construction crane collapsed onto a passing passenger train in northeast Thailand, killing at least 29 people and injuring 67.
The accident took place at about 9.05am in Sikhio district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, about 230km (143 miles) northeast of Bangkok, as the train was bound for Ubon Ratchatani province, bordering Laos.
The Nakhon Ratchasima provincial government said that the crane was working on an elevated high-speed railway under construction when it collapsed onto the passenger train, causing its derailment and a fire.
At 4pm, the provincial government updated an earlier public health ministry casualty toll from 22 deaths and 64 injured to 29 deaths and 67 injured. It added that 70 people were unhurt.
It also adjusted the central government’s earlier estimate that 195 people had been traveling on the train, saying 171 passengers were on board at the time of the accident after some had disembarked along the way.
Local media reported that the back two of three carriages were struck by the falling crane as the train was traveling at around 120kph.
Images of the disaster, showing the fire, crushed and sliced carriages and dozens of rescuers at the scene have been published by local media, government agencies and people at the scene.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed condolences to the families of the dead and suggested negligence was involved.
“Last year, there was a tunnel collapse, and this time a crane has fallen. This raises serious questions about why construction may not have followed proper procedures. Accidents like this occur only when there is negligence, when steps are skipped, or when construction does not follow the approved design or uses improper materials,” he said.
“We must urgently determine the cause. The State Railway of Thailand and all relevant agencies must conduct a thorough investigation. If wrongdoing is found, responsibility must be shared accordingly. Those responsible for poor project supervision will be held accountable and punished.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phipat Ratchakitprakarn earlier ordered an urgent investigation and a full safety review. EFE
