
A serious accident has occurred in Thailand, where a passenger train was hit by a construction crane, causing dozens of casualties.
According to the State Railway of Thailand, there were 195 people on the train based on the seating plan, although the actual number of passengers may vary.
Police have confirmed that 22 people have died and 79 others have been injured, eight of them seriously. The incident occurred at around 09:30 local time, when the crane was lifting a large section of concrete, which then fell on the train.
As a result, four carriages derailed; the first two suffered the most damage, while the third and fourth were damaged and separated from the train.
Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister, Phipat Ratchakitprakarn, has ordered a "full and comprehensive investigation" to determine the causes of the accident.
This incident comes after a series of other fatal accidents that have raised serious concerns about safety standards in the construction and transportation sectors in the country.
In recent years, Thailand has witnessed several tragic events, including the collapse of a tower under construction during an earthquake, which killed more than 100 people, as well as numerous accidents in infrastructure projects that have caused around 150 fatalities.
According to a 2022 study by the Workers' Compensation Fund, over 4,500 workers have been killed or injured in construction accidents, highlighting ongoing problems with enforcing safety regulations.