SIKHIO, THAILAND – A construction crane section crashed onto a packed express train in northeastern Thailand, killing at least 32 people and injuring dozens more.
German tourist killed as wife survives unharmed
Among the victims was a German national who died while sitting beside his wife in the third carriage. Thaeo Eimer-Tenbring, 63, who was being treated at Sikhio Hospital, said the massive steel beams of the crane suddenly tore through the roof, striking her husband and killing him instantly while she remained uninjured.
The couple had just returned from a holiday on Koh Samui and were travelling on to Surin.
“We always travelled by train because we thought it was safe,”
said Eimer-Tenbring, a grieving widow.
“I had often heard on the news about crane accidents in Thailand, but never thought it would happen to us.”
She said all their personal documents and cash were lost in the wreckage, leaving her unable to reach her late husband’s children in Germany to inform them of his death. She called on construction firm Italian-Thai Development (ITD) to provide adequate compensation and support for the bereaved.
Family left without documents or funds
Eimer-Tenbring’s younger sister, Jiam, described agonising hours of uncertainty after the crash.
“Normally my sister always calls when she gets on the train. This time it stayed eerily quiet. Then the village headman came and told me the train had crashed,”
said Jiam.
At the hospital, she learned that her brother-in-law was dead and her sister injured.
“It was pure negligence,”
said Jiam, in tears.
“Those responsible now have to cover all medical costs and take care of the funeral. My sister has no money left – everything is gone.”
The family had so far been unable to contact relatives of the deceased in Germany because all documents remained at the accident site.
Impact at full speed on Bangkok–Ubon route
The crash occurred around 9 a.m. on 14 January as Special Express Train No. 21 from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani passed through Sikhio district at about 120 km/h. A large launching truss from the adjacent high-speed rail construction suddenly fell from the elevated structure onto the moving train.
The 20–30 tonne steel section struck directly above the second carriage, causing several carriages to derail and the impact area to ignite immediately. Witnesses reported a deafening bang followed by dust, smoke and flames as the train skidded for several hundred metres before coming to a halt.
Trapped in burning carriage
Rescue workers described a desperate fight to reach those trapped in the burning coach. The automatic doors and sealed windows of the air-conditioned carriage failed, leaving many passengers with almost no chance to escape.
“The people in the second carriage were trapped. The fire spread incredibly quickly,”
said one rescue worker. Survivors tried in vain to smash the windows with emergency hammers as flames and smoke intensified.
A total of 13 rescue teams forced their way through debris and fire at considerable personal risk. One locomotive driver, himself injured, managed to pull several passengers to safety before smoke forced him to abandon the effort.
Dozens dead, several still missing
Provincial authorities said 99 people were directly affected by the disaster. Thirty‑two lost their lives and 64 were injured, seven of them critically, while three people were still reported missing.
The death toll rose over the course of the day as more bodies were recovered from the charred wreckage, and all victims were undergoing forensic identification. A witness known as “Uncle Tor” was able to rescue a child and its mother, while others in their compartment died.
High-speed rail contractor under scrutiny
The accident took place on the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail line, where construction company Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD) is the main contractor. The affected section, known as Contract 3-4, was, according to ITD, 99.54% complete.
Authorities were examining whether serious breaches of safety regulations occurred during the relocation or securing of the crane structure. ITD said it was “deeply saddened” and pledged to provide compensation, medical care and damages, while the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) announced legal action.
Massive damage and line closure
According to SRT, two diesel trainsets worth about 50 million baht each were completely destroyed. Damage to tracks and related infrastructure was estimated at more than 100 million baht.
The affected stretch of line was closed, with rail traffic expected to resume within seven days. In the meantime, 14 trains serving the northeast were being rerouted via alternative lines.
Prime minister orders full investigation
Acting Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered a comprehensive investigation and demanded accountability from contractors, regulators and project managers involved in the high-speed rail scheme.
“I have instructed the State Railway to file a criminal complaint against the contractor,”
said Anutin. A possible blacklist for ITD was being considered, and construction work on the project was halted immediately.
The 179.4 billion baht Bangkok–Nong Khai high-speed rail project, a flagship infrastructure scheme due to open in 2027, now faced serious doubts over its timeline and safety oversight.
One of Thailand’s worst rail disasters
Officials and observers said the crash ranked among Thailand’s most severe railway catastrophes and raised grave concerns over safety standards and construction controls on major infrastructure sites.
For the families of the dead and injured, a period of profound grief was just beginning. For Thailand, the disaster was both a national shock and a stark warning about the deadly risks when large-scale development and safety failures collide.