Prime Minister Anutin asked again, "Another fire?" regarding the crane collapse fire on Rama 2 Road, reflecting a failure to improve safety measures. He pointed out this as a national loss and affirmed proceeding with administrative penalties and contract termination, viewing it not as evidence destruction but as a safety oversight.
20 Jan 2026 GMT+7 Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, gave an interview regarding the case of the fire involving the collapsed crane on Rama 2 Road, showing shock and asking, "Again?" He continued, saying that he had just finished a Cabinet meeting. If an incident occurs, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn will report. Initially, the project-owning agency must take care. For the Rama 2 site, the Department of Highways is responsible, he emphasized. As the government, we will proceed with administrative measures and find ways to terminate the contractor's contract. However, since the government is not the contracting party, it has instructed the responsible agencies to take action.
Regarding whether the repeated fires in that area might be attempts to destroy evidence, the Prime Minister said that, as an engineer, proper planning and supervision must be applied according to the risk level, especially concerning third parties, requiring great caution on safety. He cited an example of a multinational company he worked with, which won awards for 30 million hours without injuries or deaths, achieved not by luck but through careful planning and control. Evidence cannot be destroyed because the clear evidence is the crane falling, causing structural engineering damage. Burning scrap metal or concrete now is pointless; documents are unnecessary because what happened speaks louder than any paperwork.
Regarding tourism operators’ calls for compensation, the Prime Minister stressed that he has instructed the Department of Highways, State Railway of Thailand (SRT), and Ministry of Transport not to listen to contract conditions but to proceed under administrative law because this is a public hazard that harms public interests, investor and tourist confidence, and national morale. Now, Phetkasem Road is congested because no one wants to use Rama 2 Road, despite all the investment. The loss of confidence is caused by the contractor who repeatedly allowed such incidents.
The Prime Minister also said that when he mentioned accidents can happen, he was criticized for neglect. When he tried to act, some said it would be a loss. But if this leads to changes in laws and regulations, he doesn’t consider it a loss, as a loss would mean being sued by companies. However, with such a crane collapse causing over 30 deaths and multiple incidents, when the state takes action, some complain either way. He is doing what is necessary, not bearing any loss himself, just instructing agencies on what to do. Doing so will make everyone wiser and more cautious. If the contractor’s family members had died, it would be one thing, but ordinary people, including foreigners and provincial travelers, are the real victims—this is the national damage that must be addressed.
"Don’t count my relatives, like my mother being the sister of the Italian-Thai company. That’s impossible because we have always competed. This issue is already connecting to other matters, so let's focus on this first."
He then added, he wants agencies to proceed with contract termination because the country is harmed. If a fire did happen, it means no safety improvements were made, so taking action is justified. He said he has done his part; now it’s up to the implementers. If they do not act, the Cabinet will keep asking Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat. Even if he becomes opposition after elections, he will ask the Minister of Transport if actions have been taken. He emphasized completing actions on these two projects first.
Mr. Siripong Angkasakulkit, spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, revealed that before the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister said that after convening relevant agencies and instructing them to consider measures regarding the crane collapse incidents at Sikhio District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, and on Rama 2 Road, as well as a nearby road subsidence last week, he wants to follow up on progress on two issues. Agencies with updates should report to the Cabinet.
1. The Prime Minister has ordered the Ministry of Transport, the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC), and related agencies to consider compensation for the deceased and medical care for the injured.
2. The Prime Minister has instructed the Ministry of Transport to consider terminating the contract of the responsible construction company and to investigate the causes to hold accountable those responsible. Contract termination must be done carefully and cautiously but also promptly, without waiting months for investigation during which similar risks remain.