Bangkok
Reuters
—
At least 19 people were killed and about 80 injured when a construction crane fell on three cars in northeastern Thailand, causing a train to derail on Wednesday, police said.
The accident occurred on Wednesday morning in Sikhio district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, 230 kilometers (143 miles) northeast of Bangkok, on a train bound for Ubon Ratchathani province from the capital.
Local police told Reuters there were more bodies in the wreckage that had yet to be recovered.
“Nineteen bodies were recovered, but as the crane started moving, some bodies in the vehicle could not be removed yet, so the team withdrew out of fear for the danger,” police Colonel Satchapong Chinawon said by telephone.
Transport Minister Piphat Ratchakitprakarn said in a statement that there were 195 people on board and ordered a thorough investigation to be carried out.
He said the deceased were in two of the three vehicles hit by the crane.
The crane was working on a high-speed rail project when it collapsed and hit a passing train, causing it to derail and briefly cause a fire.
Images shared by the ministry showed a vehicle overturned next to bushland and firefighters working to extinguish the blaze as smoke rose.
The elevated high-speed railway was one of several under construction in Thailand and would be built on top of an existing railway line.
This article has been updated with additional information.
