The Prime Minister witnessed the presentation of 1.3 million baht in compensation to the families of victims from the crane collapse on a train and urged the Ministry of Transport to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation. He affirmed that the government will not abandon the victims and will provide full assistance across all dimensions of support.
At 09:00 on 20 Jan 2026 GMT+7 at the Government House, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is also Minister of Interior, together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, witnessed the ceremony presenting financial aid to families of those who died in the crane collapse on the high-speed rail construction project in Sikhio District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, expressing concern and encouragement to the bereaved families.
Representatives from related agencies attended the ceremony, including Jirapong Theppitak, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport; Pichet Kunathamrak, Director-General of the Department of Rail Transport; Piyapong Jiwatnukulpaisan, Director-General of the Department of Highways; and Anan Phonimdaeng, Deputy Governor of the State Railway of Thailand, acting as Governor.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and emphasized that the government prioritizes care for the victims without delay. He assigned relevant agencies to expedite assistance, compensation, and facilitation for the affected families continuously to ensure aid is appropriate, comprehensive, and fair.
The compensation covers 30 families or heirs of the deceased. Today’s payments include 340,000 baht per family from the State Railway of Thailand and 1,000,000 baht per family in insurance compensation from Dhipaya Insurance Public Company Limited.
The State Railway of Thailand has coordinated with related agencies to facilitate smooth travel and other processes. It affirmed full support for the deceased and injured from this incident, alongside ongoing monitoring of all aspects and enhancement of safety measures to restore public confidence in railway services.
Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat added that all injured persons are under royal patronage and receiving full medical care. Additionally, medical expenses are covered by an insurance policy with a total coverage of over 583 million baht, sufficient to cover all costs.
The Prime Minister also expressed the government’s deepest condolences to the families and relatives of those who died in the crane collapse onto the train, calling it a tragic event causing immense loss and national grief. The compensation today reflects the government’s commitment to swiftly assist and support those affected, encouraging the families to overcome this difficult time. The aid includes insurance payouts and coordinated efforts from various sectors to ensure rapid delivery of assistance. The government will continue to oversee the compensation process until fully completed.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister ordered all relevant officials to urgently conduct a thorough, transparent, and fair investigation. There will be no tolerance for wrongdoing. If any illegal acts, violations, or negligence are found, the government will take legal action accordingly.
He also directed the Ministry of Transport to review, improve, and upgrade safety standards in construction, including laws, supervision, and penalties, to align with current circumstances. Ensuring the safety of workers and the public will be a national priority. He extended his concern and encouragement to all injured persons and families of the deceased, urging them to remain strong. The government will not abandon its people and is ready to provide full support in all aspects to restore confidence, safety, and justice to the families of the deceased as quickly as possible.