A catastrophic collision between a speeding passenger train and a collapsed construction crane in Thailand's Sikhio district has left 22 people dead and 55 injured, according to the Bangkok Post. The tragedy unfolded at 9:05 a.m. in Ban Thanon Kod, situated about 143 miles (230 kilometers) northeast of the capital. The Bangkok Post reported that special express train No. 21 was traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani at speeds reaching 75 mph (120 km/h) when it struck the obstruction.
Emergency units rushed to the scene following the impact. Initial investigations cited by the Bangkok Post suggest that a crane employed in the construction of a high-speed rail bridge fell directly onto the tracks. The train slammed into the heavy machinery and derailed, triggering a secondary collapse of construction materials onto the stricken carriages.
The Bangkok Post described a harrowing scene where the crane crushed the second carriage, igniting a blaze that trapped 40 occupants. Escape attempts were thwarted by the failure of the air-conditioned train's electric automatic doors and windows, which locked tight and could not be manually overridden. Rescuers were forced to use hydraulic cutters to breach the hull and transport the wounded to medical facilities in Sikhio, Sung Noen, and Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima.
According to the Bangkok Post, 17 bodies were recovered from the burnt wreckage, while five remained pinned inside, confirming 22 fatalities. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn ordered the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to launch an immediate probe into the crane failure. An emergency center was activated to manage the logistics for survivors.
Revised data from the SRT noted by the Bangkok Post placed the total onboard headcount at 195 passengers and crew. The accident site falls within Section 1 of the $5.4 billion Thai-Chinese High-Speed Railway (HSR) project. Launched in 2017, the venture is a key node in China's "Belt and Road" initiative, intended to link Bangkok to Kunming by 2028.
While authorities investigate the structural collapse, the rail network faces significant disruption. The Bangkok Post reported that special express trains No. 21 and 22 have been cancelled, with route modifications affecting 14 other services running between Bangkok, Ubon Ratchathani, and Surin on Wednesday.
