A devastating accident occurred in north-eastern Thailand on Wednesday morning when a construction crane fell onto a moving passenger train. The same construction team employed the enormous crane to construct a prefabricated elevated high-speed railway. This project is one of the biggest infrastructure undertakings supported by China’s Belt and Road Initiative. This avoidable accident claimed the lives of at least 32 people and injured dozens more.
At the same time a construction crane fell and hit the train, right across the dang center of its second carriage. The impact subsequently cut that carriage in half, endangering 195 passengers. The force of the impact knocked the train off the tracks, which fell on its side, igniting in flame. Emergency services responded immediately, with first responders taking 64 to area hospitals, seven in critical condition.
Background of the Incident
The crane collapse happened at an active construction site for one of the tunnel’s largest anchor projects. This new endeavor, costing more than $5 billion, hopes to create a national interconnected high-speed rail network. By the end of 2028, this railway will stretch from Bangkok all the way up to Kunming in China. It will pass through around 600 kilometers of Lao territory. Once operational, this route will allow fast-train traffic on it to flow at up to 250 kilometres per hour.
Eyewitnesses shared their account of seeing the truck and the tragic moments leading up to the crash. One passenger, Taew Eimertenbrink, recounted her experience:
“I was sleeping. He was sleeping. A metal bar was on him.”
Another witness, Mitr Intrpanya, recalled the terrifying sounds that accompanied the incident:
“There was a loud noise, like something sliding down from above, followed by two explosions.”
From the collapse, the crane hit two out of the three carriages it impacted, resulting in no less than 15 passengers dead and at least 62 injured.
Investigations and Accountability
In light of the tragedy, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that it is necessary to hold those responsible accountable. He asserted,
“Clearly the fault of the construction company.”
The contractor responsible — Italian-Thai Development — has been ordered to stop all construction work while a full investigation of the occurrence is conducted. The prime minister emphasized the importance of understanding the cause of the accident:
“We must determine the cause so this incident can serve as a lesson.”
Our government is dedicated to enforcing cranes to work safely in all future TOD construction. They don’t want to see another family experience the same tragedy that befell their loved one.
The Broader Implications
This incident should raise more than a few eyebrows about safety standards when it comes to mega construction projects, particularly those dedicated to the development of public transportation. Thailand is on a fast-track to realize its ambitious infrastructure plans. Today, that focus must be squarely placed on implementing these safety measures to protect workers and passengers alike.
