At least 22 people were dead in northeastern Thailand on Tuesday after a crane collapsed onto a passenger train. Photo courtesy of State Railway of Thailand/Facebook
A construction crane collapsed Tuesday on a train with nearly 200 people aboard in northeastern Thailand, killing at least 22 people and injuring dozens more, officials said.
The incident occurred in Sikhio in Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeast of Bangkok, at about 9:05 a.m. ICT, the Thai government’s Public Relations Department said in a statement.
The collapse of the crane working on the high-speed rail bridge derailed the train traveling below. Pictures of the scene show that several passenger carriages suffered extensive damage and were lying on their sides beside the track. A photo of the incident posted online by the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Government shows a fire at the scene.
The death toll sits at 22, but it has been updated at least twice in the four hours since the derailment occurred. At least 64 people were injured, the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Government said in a statement, adding that the bodies of the deceased have been moved to Sikhio Hospital.
Special Express Train No. 21 was en route from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station to Ubon Ratchathani with 195 passengers and staff on board when the incident occurred, the State Railway of Thailand said in a statement.
“Authorities are currently in the process of verifying individual identities and providing close care to those injured,” the agency said.
At least eight of the injured victims were classified as in critical condition and 19 in serious but stable condition. Another 30 were considered to have suffered minor injuries, the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Government said in an update.
The cause of the crane collapse was under investigation.
This is a developing story.
