Death toll rises to 31 as construction crane collapses onto train in Thailand

The death toll rose to 31 after the tragic incident of a construction crane collapsing onto a moving passenger train in Thailand on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. The high-speed train was derailed and caught fire.

The incident occurred at around 9:00 a.m. (local time) in Sikhio district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, about 230km north-east of Bangkok.

The train was travelling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani. There were approximately 195 passengers on board.

Footage from the scene showed the horrific wreckage of the train lying on its side beneath towering concrete pillars, with smoke rising from damaged carriages.

Following the incident, rescue teams started an operation to free trapped passengers. Later, authorities paused the rescue operation, citing chemical leakage at the site.

At least 31 deaths had occurred, according to district police chief Thatchapon Chinnawong, who also said more than 60 were injured in the accident. Critical cases were dispatched to hospitals in the area. Those who lost their lives were mostly in the second and last carriages of the train.

The crane was part of a $5.4bn Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project intended to link Bangkok with Nong Khai on the border with Laos. This was supposed to connect China as a part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

A comprehensive investigation has been launched to assess the exact cause of the collapse as per the orders of Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. He also stated that authorities are working to identify the victims and provide compensation to affected families.