The accident occurred on Wednesday morning in the Sikhio district, around 230 km northeast of Bangkok.
The train was travelling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani when the crane — part of a high-speed rail construction project — collapsed and struck the passing train.

Police said the impact derailed at least one carriage, triggering a fire that engulfed parts of the train. Rescue officials warned that the death toll could rise further as some bodies were still trapped inside the wreckage.

Rescue and response

Firefighters managed to douse the blaze, while multiple rescue teams were deployed to pull passengers from the mangled carriages. Visuals shared by Thailand’s public relations department showed burnt coaches, twisted metal and emergency crews working amid debris.

Thailand’s Transport Minister Piphat Ratchakitprakan said there were around 195 passengers on board at the time of the accident. He ordered a full investigation to determine whether safety protocols at the construction site were violated.

Focus on safety lapses

Authorities are now examining:

• Why the crane collapsed during active rail operations

• Whether construction safety buffers were followed

• Coordination failures between rail operators and the high-speed rail project

The incident has sparked renewed scrutiny of construction safety near live rail corridors, especially as Thailand accelerates major infrastructure projects.

Rescue operations are ongoing, and officials have not ruled out the possibility of additional casualties as recovery work continues.