At least 28 dead after construction crane falls on train

At least 28 people have died and 64 others left injured after a construction crane fell onto a moving train in north-eastern Thailand.

The crane derailed the train and crushed some of its carriages, one of which caught fire.

Official records say some 195 passengers had been onboard the train when the accident occured at around 09:00 local time (02:00 GMT).

Rescuers later managed to fully evacuate all passengers and many of the wounded were transferred to hospitals in the region.

The government has ordered an investigation into the incident, which comes after a series of other fatal accidents blamed on safety lapses.

The train had been travelling from Bangkok to the north-eastern Ubon Ratchathani province when the accident occured.

The crane was being used to build an overhead railway that is part of a China-backed project to link Bangkok with neighbouring Laos, where a Chinese-built high-speed line is already running to south-western China.

One survivor, train staff member Thirasak Wongsoongnern, told local media that he and the other passengers were thrown into the air after the crane fell on them.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has called for “someone [to] be punished and held accountable” for the incident.

“Accidents like this can only happen due to negligence, skipped steps, deviations from the design, or the use of incorrect materials,” Anutin said.

A one-year-old and an 85-year-old are among the 64 people injured. Of that number, eight are said to be in a severe condition.

Thailand is no stranger to deadly construction accidents, due in part to weak enforcement of safety standards and regulations.