Thailand faces mounting scrutiny over construction safety protocols following two major infrastructure accidents within 24 hours. The most recent incident occurred Thursday morning on the outskirts of Bangkok when a construction crane collapsed onto the Rama 2 Road elevated expressway in Samut Sakhon province. According to the government’s Public Relations Department, the collapse trapped at least two vehicles beneath massive metal girders at approximately 9 a.m., with rescue operations immediately initiated. Initial reports from Fire & Rescue Thailand’s Facebook page indicated at least one fatality, though official confirmation remains pending.
This latest accident comes merely one day after a catastrophic construction incident in Nakhon Ratchasima province, where a falling crane derailed and crushed a moving passenger train, resulting in at least 32 confirmed fatalities. Provincial governor Anuphong Suksomnit confirmed the conclusion of search operations Wednesday night, though investigations continue regarding three passengers initially listed as missing. Officials believe 171 people were aboard the train’s three carriages at the time of impact.
The Rama 2 Road expressway extension project has developed notoriety for multiple construction accidents in recent years, some proving fatal. Similarly, the high-speed rail project involved in Wednesday’s tragedy represents a significant component of Thailand’s infrastructure development, with total investment exceeding 520 billion baht ($16.8 billion) and connections to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Italian-Thai Development (Italthai), the project’s contractor, faces renewed scrutiny following both incidents. The company previously served as co-lead contractor for Bangkok’s State Audit Building that collapsed during construction in March 2023, killing approximately 100 people. Although dozens of executives were indicted, none have faced trial. Italthai has issued statements expressing condolences and committing to compensation for victims’ families and medical expenses for the injured.
The involvement of Chinese companies in both projects has drawn additional attention, particularly given their participation in multiple expressway extensions around Bangkok where several accidents have occurred. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry confirmed one South Korean national among the dead in the train accident, while Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning expressed official condolences regarding the rail incident.