A Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani train collided with a collapsed construction crane in Nakhon Ratchasima, killing 22 passengers and injuring 55 others.
It happened at 9.05am in Sikhio district. Several rescue units were immediately sent to the scene.
Initial reports said that a crane, being used in the construction of a high-speed rail bridge, fell across the train tracks, blocking the track. An approaching passenger train hit the collapsed crane and derailed, which also caused additional construction materials to fall onto the train.
The collision caused a fire and rescuers had to use hydraulic cutters to free trapped passengers from the wreckage. They were transported to nearby hospitals.
The train was a special express with three carriages, and had a total of 195 passengers and staff, based on the seating plan, the SRT said.
The rail bridge construction is for Section 1 (Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima) of the Thai-Chinese High-Speed Railway (HSR) project, which began in 2017.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crane collapse.
