KHON KAEN, THAILAND – A construction crane collapsed onto a two-storey wooden house in a residential area, narrowly sparing a 29-year-old resident and leaving his family homeless as they sought compensation.
Crane topples during house installation
The accident happened on a Friday around 11 a.m., when a prefabricated house was being lifted onto a plot in a housing estate. The crane had already raised a load of over one tonne more than 10 metres high, moving it above high-voltage power lines. The machine then lost its balance, crashed down and fell with its load onto the adjacent wooden house.
Resident escapes seconds before impact
According to the survivor, the moment of impact felt catastrophic.
“It was like an explosion.”
said the rescued 29-year-old resident. He had just left his bedroom when the crane hit, and dust and debris blocked his path, trapping him inside the damaged building.
Workers break window to free trapped man
Construction workers and the site supervisor immediately rushed into the destroyed house, calling out to locate anyone buried under the wreckage. A voice answered from the debris, guiding them to the trapped man. The helpers had to break a window to pull him to safety.
“I was incredibly lucky.”
said the rescued man later, noting that the crushed section was an area he normally passed through constantly.
Home crushed, family left without shelter
One half of the house was completely flattened, with furniture and personal belongings destroyed, and the structure was no longer habitable. A relative who had been washing clothes nearby heard the crash and ran outside, where she saw the crane lying across the family’s home. The family was left homeless and deeply worried about their future.
“Any gap in compensation could cause us major problems.”
said a family member.
Preliminary probe points to operator error
Initial investigations indicated a possible operating error by the crane operator. Witnesses and security camera footage suggested that the heavy load had not been lowered to relieve pressure on the crane. Crossing the power lines while carrying the full weight was believed to have been the critical mistake.
Insurance cover and calls for fair settlement
The crane company stated that it had accident insurance for such incidents. However, the affected family demanded a fair and transparent resolution and said they did not want to be left with the repair costs. The incident caused significant concern in the neighbourhood over safety in residential areas where heavy machinery operates close to homes.