Residents in Thailand's Ban Thanon Khot have recount the harrowing experience following a tragic train crash caused by a construction crane collapsing onto the train. The accident, which occurred as people were commuting for work and school, resulted in at least 32 fatalities and left many others injured.
Eyewitness Pitchaya Promenade described hearing a loud crash followed by the sight of a crane flipping over onto the moving train. Rescuers continued to pull bodies from the wreckage as the BBC reported from the scene, where parts of the train were entirely crushed.
Witnesses painted a horrifying picture, with one woman recalling the chaos of injured passengers trapped inside the damaged train. People were screaming 'Help! Help!' while smoke rose from one of the carriages caught on fire, said Penporn Pumjantuek, a local restaurant owner who rushed to assist before emergency responders arrived.
Among the injured were a one-year-old child and an elderly 85-year-old, with several individuals in critical condition. The crane was part of a major infrastructure project linking Bangkok and southwestern China, raising serious questions about construction safety standards in the country.
As investigations are set to unfold, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has called for accountability, particularly targeting the Italian-Thai Development Company that oversaw the section of the railway where the accident happened. Concerns over previous construction accidents in Thailand flash reminders of the need for stricter safety protocols in the industry.
