Death toll rises to 22 in Korat train crash after crane collapse

Local rescue teams reported this afternoon, January 14, that the death toll from a train accident in Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat, rose sharply from four to 22, with more than 50 people injured.

The fatal incident occurred at around 9am on a railway line in the Baan Thanon Kot community in the Sikhiu district of Nakhon Ratchasima. The track runs beneath the elevated railway currently under construction for the Bangkok–Nong Khai high-speed train project.

According to Matichon, a crane from the construction site above the railway collapsed onto the track just as train No. 21, operating on the Bangkok–Ubon Ratchathani route, was approaching the area.

The train driver was unable to stop in time and the train crashed directly into the fallen crane. The violent impact caused a fire to break out and left passengers trapped inside all three carriages.

Matichon reported that the train was carrying approximately 190 passengers, most of whom were students and local residents travelling from Pak Chong district to work in other areas.

Rescuers from the Hook 31 Foundation told the media that at least 22 passengers lost their lives in the incident. The first seven bodies were recovered from the first carriage, while rescue teams are continuing to use metal-cutting equipment to retrieve additional victims from the severely damaged train.

The number of injured passengers increased from an initial estimate of 20 to more than 50, according to rescue officials. The injured received first aid at the scene before being transferred to Sikhiu Hospital, Sung Noen Hospital, and Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital for further treatment.

Investigations into the cause of the crane collapse are ongoing. Meanwhile, online discussions intensified, with members of the public questioning which construction company was responsible for the project and calling for accountability over the deadly incident.

Some netizens claimed that the contractor involved is Italian-Thai Development, the same company previously linked to a building collapse in Bangkok’s Chatuchak area.

However, this information has not yet been confirmed by any government agency, and the company has not issued an official statement regarding the allegation.

The Bangkok–Nong Khai High-Speed Railway is part of a major regional transport project aimed at linking Thailand with China via Laos. The construction is currently in its first phase, which is scheduled to be operational in 2028, while the full rail connection to China is expected to be completed by 2030.

Authorities have yet to release an official statement confirming the final casualty figures or responsibility for the crane collapse.