KORAT — A woman who was travelling home to attend her father’s funeral was among those killed when a construction crane collapsed onto a passenger train in northeastern Thailand, in a tragedy that has now claimed at least 32 lives.
The accident occurred on Wednesday along the Bangkok–Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed rail construction corridor between Lam Takhong and Sikhiu district, when a crane at a construction site in Ban Thanon Khot village fell onto Special Express Diesel Railcar No. 21, which was travelling from Krung Thep Aphiwat station in Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani.
As of 17:00 Wednesday, authorities said 32 people had been confirmed dead, three remained missing and 66 others were injured and receiving treatment.
One of the victims was identified as Chananyat Wongchan, who was travelling in the second carriage of the train. Family members said she had been on her way back to her home province to attend her father’s funeral.
A day before the crash, Chananyat had posted a message on social media announcing her father’s death and saying she would be returning home soon. Early Wednesday morning, a relative asked when she would be travelling back. She replied at about 06:28 that she was returning that day — only hours before the crash.
Later, her boyfriend posted a photo of the train on social media, confirming that her body had been found.
“From the crane collapse onto the train, I have now found my girlfriend’s body,” he wrote. “Today is the day my heart is completely broken.”
Rescue teams continued to search the wreckage late into the evening while investigators worked to determine the cause of the crane collapse.