BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s interim government moved to cut ties with Italian-Thai Development after two deadly crane accidents in 24 hours triggered intense domestic and international scrutiny.
Crane crashes leave dozens dead
Within two days, cranes collapsed in Nakhon Ratchasima and on Rama II Road near Bangkok, hitting a moving train and a construction site. In the Si Khiew district of Nakhon Ratchasima, a crane from the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project fell onto a passenger train, causing 32 deaths according to the Associated Press. International outlets including the BBC and South China Morning Post highlighted that both sites were operated by Italian-Thai Development and cited a long record of serious accidents, including the collapse of a high-rise built by the same company after an earthquake the previous March.
Government orders contract terminations and blacklist
Interim Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Thursday he had instructed the Transport Ministry to end all ongoing major projects with the company.
“I have instructed the ministry to terminate the contracts for mega transport projects with ITD, to initiate legal action and to place the contractor on a blacklist,”
said Anutin after a meeting on safety measures for large projects. He stated the government could not justify keeping such contractors in public service and that new firms would be found for unfinished works, with further damages to be claimed under contract and bank guarantees and additional payments possibly sought from ITD.
Reassuring foreign partners and public
According to Anutin, the Council of State had provided legal guidance, and the Office of the Attorney General was to take measures “for the public benefit and to reassure foreign states regarding the standards.” The high-speed rail line where the latest accident occurred was intended to tighten regional connectivity with China and was regarded as a strategically important infrastructure project. With the steps announced, the government sought to respond both to public anger and to rising safety concerns abroad.
Political blame and Anutin’s response
Asked about political criticism of the Bhumjaithai Party’s role in the earlier contract for the high-speed route with a Chinese partner, Anutin rejected any link.
“What is the connection?”
said Anutin, describing the allegations as a political attack.
“The procurement process complied with all regulations. It was not the Bhumjaithai Party, but the Thai government. This has nothing to do with politics,”
said the interim leader, warning that constant mudslinging between parties harmed the public and adding:
“We want peace, not political conflict.”
Railway authority eyes termination and damages
Acting State Railway of Thailand governor Anan Phonnimdaeng said the budget watchdog had recommended applying the law on public procurement and state assets, which allows contracts to be cancelled if contractors violate safety rules. In the Si Khiew crash, two diesel railcars were completely destroyed, with estimated repair damage of 105 million baht, while replacing a single railcar would cost more than 70 million baht, Anan noted.
“SRT is preparing the assessment of damage to its image, loss of trust and opportunity costs in order to claim additional compensation. A criminal complaint over the dangerous incident resulting in death has already been filed,”
said the acting governor.
Compensation and insurance coverage
The private contractor held liability insurance covering passengers and property damage, according to Anan. Authorities expected compensation of 1 million baht per person, with exact coverage limits to be clarified in a joint meeting with the insurer. The dispute over financial responsibility was set to unfold alongside broader reviews of contracts and safety compliance on the project.
Safety violations at crash site
After visiting the site, Anan said the crane had been positioned on a sharp curve of the future high-speed route, where both an elevated structure and a ground-level section were being built parallel to the existing track, making the work particularly demanding. He reported that the safety zone had been breached, with work carried out 4 to 5 meters from the existing tracks even though standards prohibit construction activities within 2.5 meters of the structure while trains are operating. A commission involving the Engineering Council and the Engineering Institute of Thailand under royal patronage was tasked with determining within 15 days whether orders had been ignored or the more than 400-ton launcher had been inadequately secured.
Recovery work and new monitoring
Once the bodies had been recovered and it was confirmed no one remained in the wreckage, another crane was to be deployed to separate the elements of the orange launcher blocking the track. Only after that could regular train services resume, and Anan stressed the dismantling had to proceed with the utmost caution. Removing the large steel structure was expected to take about seven days, while additional sensors and CCTV cameras were ordered at high-risk construction sites nationwide to prevent similar incidents.
Long record of deadly accidents
International media pointed out that construction safety in the country had faced criticism for years. On the highway from Bangkok to the south, where the Rama II Road incident occurred, around 150 people had died in accidents over the past seven years, leading to the road being dubbed the “road of death” because of the frequency of serious crashes. The Associated Press also recalled that a tunnel collapse on the same high-speed rail project in August of the previous year killed three workers, and that ITD had been the contractor for the collapse of the Auditor-General’s Office building in Bangkok after the March earthquake, in which nearly 100 people died, the deadliest earthquake-related building failure in the country.
Accident chain or systemic failure?
With two crane accidents in 24 hours, a crushed train, global headlines and contracts cancelled, the question extended beyond individual responsibility. The sequence of disasters again raised doubts over whether Thailand’s mega-projects had slipped out of control and whether systemic safety oversight had been ignored for years. How far-reaching the final consequences for Italian-Thai Development and other major contractors would be was expected to become clear only after ongoing investigations and contract reviews were completed.