Thailand: two crane collapses in 48 hours kill 34

Thailand is in shock after two fatal crane collapses on construction sites within 24 hours of each other.

The incidents have resulted in at least 34 deaths and over 70 injuries, and involve the same contractor: Italian-Thai Development.

Crane collapses onto train: 32 dead in Nakhon Ratchasima

Rescuers rescued trapped passengers after a construction crane fell on two carriages of an express train linking Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani in Nakhon Ratchasima province (Korat).

The first tragedy occurred on January 14, 2026, at around 9:30 am, near a construction site for the future high-speed railway line at Ban Thanon Khot, in Sikhio district, Nakhon Ratchasima province

A massive construction crane collapsed onto the special express train No. 21 (Krung Thep Aphiwat – Ubon Ratchathani) as it was passing through the area.

The train was carrying 171 passengers at the time of the impact.

After several hours of searching through the metal debris, the authorities confirmed that 32 people died and 66 were injured, while 70 passengers were unharmed.

The Governor of Nakhon Ratchasima, Anupong Suksomnit, stated:

“We have thoroughly inspected every square centimeter of the site and confirmed that there are no more people trapped or missing.”

The efforts are now focused on clearing the debris and restoring normal operation of the railway line.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, the crane remained suspended from gigantic concrete pillars intended to support the future high-speed line, a major Sino-Thai project.

The railway company has ordered the cessation of work until the end of the investigation, while the authorities promise that all parties involved will be held accountable.

New tragedy on Rama II Road: 2 dead in Samut Sakhon

A vehicle is crushed by elements of a crane used for the construction of a highway bridge, after it collapsed on Rama II Road on Thursday, January 15, 2026, in Samut Sakhon.

Less than 24 hours later, on the morning of Thursday, January 15, a second accident hit the province of Samut Sakhon.

Shortly after 9 am, parts of a crane used for the construction of an expressway collapsed onto Rama II Road, hitting two vehicles traveling below.

According to the authorities:

• 2 people were killed
• 5 others injured

Dashcam footage shows the moment the crane collapsed onto Rama II, raising a cloud of dust and debris.

The police cordoned off the area and closed certain lanes for safety reasons, causing significant traffic jams on this major route.

The same contractor involved in both incidents

Image of Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD), shared on their social networks.

The interim Minister of Transport, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, confirmed that the two construction sites — in Korat and on Rama II — are linked to Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD), one of the country's main construction groups.

“Yes, it's Italian-Thai. We need to uncover the facts, whether it's an accident or something else. »

Italian-Thai has presented its condolences and promised to compensate the victims' families and cover the medical expenses of the injured.

Measures taken after the accidents

Crane accident that fell on a train in Nakorn Ratchassima.

In response to these two consecutive tragedies, the authorities have decided to suspend work on the affected railway projects.

Notably on the high-speed train section involved in the accident, in order to allow a comprehensive investigation into the causes and safety of the construction sites.

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has ordered the temporary halt of construction on the Bangkok–Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed rail line in the accident area and is examining technical and contractual responsibilities to prevent further tragedies.

See also: Thailand–China high-speed train: ten years of waiting and still delayed

More broadly, these accidents have reignited debates on the safety of elevated infrastructure projects in Thailand.

Experts and engineering associations have called for stricter controls, standards, and inspections on construction sites involving cranes or structures above traffic routes.

These two successive disasters raise serious questions about the safety of major construction projects in Thailand.

They also revive the debate on the supervision of large infrastructure projects, particularly those with elevated structures above existing roads or transportation lines.

See also:

Thailand: road collapse in Bangkok due to metro construction

Heavy rains cause a highway to collapse in Thailand

Video: Floods destroy highway in northeast Thailand

Source: The Nation Thailand, Bangkok Post, Bangkok Post 2, Thai PBS World