At least 22 people were killed and 64 injured in Thailand on Wednesday after a construction crane fell on a passenger train, officials said.
The crane hit a moving train in Nakhon Ratchasima province as it traveled from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani, causing the train to derail and catch fire, the province’s Public Relations Department said.
The department said in a Facebook post that the fire was under control and officials were searching for people believed to be trapped on the train.
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On Wednesday, January 14, a construction crane fell into a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand. (State Railways of Thailand via AP)
Transport Minister Piphat Ratchakitprakan said there were almost 200 people on board the train and an investigation was underway.
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The aftermath of a deadly crane collapse that struck a passenger train in Thailand. (State Railways of Thailand via AP)
“Nineteen bodies have been recovered, but there are still some in the train carriages that cannot be removed yet because the crane started to shift. So the team withdrew for fear of danger,” police Colonel Thatchapon Chinnawong said, according to Reuters.
Chinnawong added that the dead were in two of the three carriages hit by the crane.
A train traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani derailed after a construction crane fell on one of its carriages. (Department of Transport/Handout via Reuters)
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This is a development story. Check back later for updates.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
