Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has ordered an immediate and comprehensive investigation into a catastrophic accident involving a construction crane and a passenger train in the Sikhio district.
At least 22 people were killed and more than 30 injured when a train from Bangkok to northeastern Thailand derailed after a crane from a China-backed high-speed rail project fell onto one of its carriages.
The resulting fire has been extinguished and authorities are working to… pic.twitter.com/9H5j2ny2BC
— BFM News (@NewsBFM) January 14, 2026
Incident Overview
At approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, a construction crane utilized for the joint Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project fell onto a moving passenger train traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani. The impact caused the train to derail and triggered a brief fire.
Casualties and Impact
As of the latest official reports from the Thai Police:
- Fatalities: 22 individuals are confirmed deceased.
- Injuries: Approximately 80 passengers have sustained injuries.
- Scope: 195 passengers were on board at the time of the incident. The crane struck three carriages, with the most severe damage occurring in the second carriage, which was effectively bisected by the heavy machinery.
Emergency Response
Rescue teams and emergency personnel are currently on-site using heavy lifting equipment to extract trapped passengers from the wreckage. Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn confirmed that those killed were primarily located in two of the three impacted carriages.
“We are committed to a full transparent investigation to determine the cause of this failure,” stated Minister Phiphat. “Our immediate priority is the care of the injured and the support of the families affected by this tragedy.”
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Project Background
The crane was operating on the elevated concrete platforms of the long-standing high-speed rail project, which is designed to run above the existing rail lines. This incident marks a significant tragedy in the region’s infrastructure development and raises urgent questions regarding safety protocols on high-profile construction sites.
Safety and Accountability
The Ministry of Transport will review all safety measures currently in place at the high-speed rail construction sites across the country. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses and the identification of victims is completed.
