At least 32 people have been killed and 66 others injured after a construction crane fell onto a moving train in north-eastern Thailand.
The crane derailed the train and crushed some of its carriages, one of which caught fire. A one-year-old and an 85-year-old are among those injured, with seven people in critical condition, according to authorities.
Officials say around 171 passengers had been onboard when the accident occurred at approximately 09:00 local time (02:00 GMT).
The State Railway of Thailand has initiated an investigation and is pursuing legal action against the construction company responsible for the crane, the Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited, which has expressed regret and pledged compensation for the casualties.
The train was en route from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani, carrying students and workers. Reportedly, the crane collapsed while lifting a heavy concrete section, triggering the derailment of four coaches.
Survivors described chaos ensued as they were thrown into the air upon impact. Eyewitness Maliwan Nakthon recounted fragments of concrete falling before the crane struck the train.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul condemned the incident, demanding accountability, emphasizing that negligence or procedural lapses must be addressed. The crane was part of a significant construction project linking Bangkok with Laos.
The State Railway of Thailand stated damages for the train carriages alone exceed 100 million baht (US$3.1 billion).
Thailand has seen numerous deadly construction incidents over the years, often attributed to inadequate safety practices.
