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The derailment occurred on part of an ambitious planned
high-speed rail project that will eventually connect China with
much of Southeast Asia.
The crane, which was being used to build an elevated part of the
railway, fell as the train was traveling from Bangkok to Ubon
Ratchathani province, according to the public relations office
for Nakhon Ratchasima province, where the accident took place.
Photos published in Thai media showed plumes of white then dark
smoke above the scene, and construction equipment hanging down
from between two concrete support pillars.
Rescue workers stood on top of overturned railways carriages,
some of them with gaping holes torn on their sides, video from
public broadcaster ThaiPBS showed. What appeared to be sections
of the crane were scattered along the track. Meanwhile,
paramedics gave first aid to injured passengers.
Thai media reported the train had three carriages, the last two
being the most damaged.
Transport Minister Piphat Ratchakitprakan said 195 people were
on board the train. He said he ordered an investigation.
The elevated segment that collapsed is a part of a Thai-Chinese
high-speed railway project linking the national capital Bangkok
to the northeastern province of Nong Khai, bordering Laos. The
two-stage rail project has a total investment cost of more than
520 billion baht ($16.8 billion) and is associated with an
ambitious plan to connect China with Southeast Asia under
Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.
In August 2024, a railway tunnel on the planned route, also in
Nakhon Ratchasima, collapsed, killing three workers. Days of
heavy rainfall were believed to have been a factor in the
collapse.
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