At least 22 people have been killed and dozens more injured after a large construction crane fell onto a moving passenger train in northeastern Thailand on Wednesday morning, authorities said.

The deadly incident occurred at approximately 9:05 a.m. local time in the Sikhio district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, about 230 kilometres northeast of Bangkok, as the train was travelling from the Thai capital to Ubon Ratchathani Province.

According to local officials, the crane—which was part of construction work on an elevated high-speed rail project—collapsed onto the passing train, causing multiple carriages to derail and briefly catch fire. Emergency teams were able to extinguish the blaze, but the impact had already inflicted severe damage to the train’s structure and trapped some passengers in the wreckage.

Transport Minister Piphat Ratchakitprakan confirmed there were 195 passengers and crew members aboard the train at the time of the accident, and that rescue operations are ongoing. More than 30 people have been treated for injuries at nearby hospitals, while additional casualties are feared as responders work to free individuals still trapped.

Images from the scene show overturned carriages, heavy equipment at work, and emergency crews painstakingly cutting through twisted metal to reach survivors. Authorities have not yet released full casualty numbers as recovery efforts continue.

Thai officials have launched a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the crane collapse and the safety measures in place at the construction site. The Governor of the State Railway of Thailand has been summoned to oversee the inquiry, with early questions focusing on whether proper protocols were followed around the active rail line.

The involvement of equipment from a major high-speed rail project—part of the country’s ongoing infrastructure expansion—has prompted officials to examine whether miscommunication or mechanical failure played a role.

The crash marks one of the deadliest rail accidents in Thailand in recent years and has drawn widespread expressions of concern from government leaders and the public alike. Local hospitals are continuing to treat the injured, while rescue teams persist in their efforts to recover victims and clear debris from the crash site.

As investigations proceed and officials work to support victims’ families, Thailand mourns the lives lost in a tragedy that has shocked communities across the region (ILKHA).