A shocking incident A crane collapsed onto the Si Kio high-speed train Derailment and fire broke out, resulting in 22 deaths and over 50 injuries
On 14 Jan 2026, a horrifying event occurred near railway kilometer marker 220, pillar 9, Ban Thanon Kot, Si Kio Subdistrict, Si Kio District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. A large crane involved in the high-speed railway construction project collapsed onto the special express diesel railcar train (Sprinter) number 21 as it was heading to Ubon Ratchathani Province. The impact caused passenger cars to derail and a severe fire to break out. Preliminary reports confirm 22 fatalities and more than 50 injured.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that as the special express train number 21, which had just departed from Bangkok Apiwat Station en route to Ubon Ratchathani, was passing the high-speed railway construction site, the crane lifting a large concrete segment suddenly malfunctioned and crashed heavily onto the train carriages, producing a loud, resounding noise throughout the area.
The crushing force severely damaged the first and second carriages, which bore the full weight of the concrete beam, before a fire broke out. The third carriage was struck by the crane's metal framework, causing it to be completely destroyed, while the fourth carriage was thrown off the tracks amid the panic of nearly 200 passengers onboard.
Following the incident, rescue teams from various units, including Phromtham Si Kio Rescue Foundation, Huk 31 Rescue Unit, and emergency medical teams from nearby hospitals, rushed to the site urgently. Officials had to use cutting and spreading equipment to extract the bodies of the deceased and injured from the compressed and fire-engulfed train wreckage.
As of 12:00 noon, preliminary damage assessments confirmed a total of 22 deaths at the scene and during hospital transport. Over 50 injured individuals have been distributed for treatment at Si Kio Hospital, Sung Noen Hospital, and Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, with many patients in critical condition.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has announced a temporary suspension of train services on the Northeastern Line to allow authorities to recover the wreckage and inspect the structural integrity of the remaining crane equipment. A committee has been established to investigate the cause of this major accident in the high-speed railway construction project, determining whether it resulted from negligence or mechanical failure, with legal actions to follow.