Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat urged the rapid compensation for victims of the crane collapse onto a train, ordering insurance companies to pay immediately with minimal procedures to prevent families of the deceased from waiting. The minimum compensation for the deceased is 1.5 million baht, and the injured are already under royal patronage.
19 Jan 2026 GMT+7 Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, chaired a meeting to expedite assistance and compensation for the victims of the incident. A crane used in the high-speed train construction collapsed onto Special Express Train No. 21, (Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani) near Sikhiu District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, on 14 January. This resulted in numerous deaths and injuries. He emphasized that compensation must be provided immediately without procedural delays.
Key attendees included Mr. Chuchat Pramulpol, Secretary-General of the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC); Mr. Somporn Suebtawilkul, CEO of Dhipaya Insurance Public Company Limited; Mr. Chayatham Promsorn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport; and Mr. Anan Phonimdang, Acting Governor of the State Railway of Thailand, held at the Ministry of Transport in Bangkok.
Mr. Phiphat stated that this event is a major loss no one wishes to see. While investigations into the cause are ongoing, the government and Ministry of Transport must take clear, swift, and fair responsibility. Compensation is the duty of the state and all involved parties. Funds must reach the people first, with technical procedures handled afterward. Immediate assistance must be provided in cases of death.
. The meeting confirmed urgent measures ordered by Mr. Phiphat for the OIC and Dhipaya Insurance to expedite initial compensation payments from the contractor's CAR insurance policy. Families of the deceased will receive 1,000,000 baht each immediately, with minimal documentation and no bureaucratic delays or burdens on the families.
As of 19 January 2026, there are 161 victims in total: 30 confirmed dead (fully identified), including 29 passengers and 1 contractor employee; 69 injured, with 54 discharged and 15 still hospitalized.
. Regarding compensation for the deceased, (confirmed figures as of information received by the Ministry of Transport) total confirmed compensation amounts to no less than 1,510,000 baht per victim. This is broken down as follows:
1. Royal condolence assistance (under royal patronage) of 20,000 baht,
2. Insurance policy payment of 1,000,000 baht,
3. State Railway of Thailand compensation of 340,000 baht,
4. Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited payment of 150,000 baht.
Additional aid may come from other sources such as the Victim Compensation Act, Criminal Case Victim Assistance Fund, Disaster Relief Fund, and social security benefits, which are currently under review.
Mr. Phiphat added that all injured individuals are under royal patronage and receiving full medical care. Medical expenses are covered by insurance policies with total coverage exceeding 583 million baht, ensuring all costs are fully supported.
