Tragic Train Disaster in Thailand: A Community Mourns

Thu Jan 15 2026 13:40:18 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A train crash in Thailand caused by a collapsing construction crane leaves over 30 dead and many others injured. Local residents recount the horrors as rescue efforts unfold.

On Wednesday, a construction crane collapsed onto a moving train in Ban Thanon Khot, Thailand, resulting in the tragic death of at least 32 individuals and injuring 66 others, primarily students and workers. Eyewitnesses described the horrifying scene, with some still traumatized by the event. As rescue efforts continue, questions arise about safety standards in the ongoing China-backed railway project responsible for the crane.

Residents in Thailand's Ban Thanon Khot are accustomed to the rumbling of trains – rail is a key mode of transportation connecting the remote town with major cities.

But on Wednesday, the mundane rhythm ended in tragedy.

The noise was abnormally loud. A huge, crashing sound, said school volunteer Pitchaya Promenade. I saw a blue crane sliding. It seemed stuck for a moment, and suddenly it flipped over.

The construction crane had collapsed onto a moving train, killing at least 32 people and injuring 66 others. Most were students and workers travelling for school and work. Thailand's Public Health Ministry reported three individuals still missing as of Wednesday evening.

Rescuers were still pulling bodies out of the mangled train when the BBC arrived at the scene in the evening, with parts completely crushed.

If I had to describe the damage visually, it looked like a spoon scooping into a slice of cake, Pitchaya recounted. There was an elderly woman hanging upside down… Another woman, whose right arm appeared to be broken, was holding onto her.

One train carriage caught fire due to the collision, complicating rescue efforts. Emergency responders utilized cranes and hydraulic cutting tools to free passengers trapped in the wreckage.

Witness Penporn Pumjantuek, who lives nearby, described the chaotic scene: People were screaming 'Help! Help!' and smoke was starting to rise, with oil from the train spilling everywhere.

Survivors included a one-year-old and an 85-year-old, both injured. Many local residents stepped in to help, even as they grappled with their fear and trauma. Examples of heroism emerged, with people rushing to assist those in desperate need.

The crane involved in the accident was part of a US$5.4 billion project connecting Bangkok with southwestern China via Laos, raising significant safety concerns regarding the construction company responsible for the disaster.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has called for an investigation, while the State Railway of Thailand plans to sue the Italian-Thai Development Company, involved in the railway construction, showcasing deep public outrage and concern over the lack of safety standards in such projects.

Despite previous warnings about construction safety, Thailand has seen numerous similar incidents over recent years, prompting calls from experts for stricter regulations and enforcement to prevent future tragedies.