Thailand’s infrastructure sector faces a severe crisis following two catastrophic crane failures within 48 hours, both linked to the nation’s prominent construction firm Italian-Thai Development. The tragic sequence began Wednesday when a massive launching gantry crane collapsed onto a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, resulting in 32 fatalities and 64 injuries in one of Thailand’s deadliest rail accidents in recent history.
The tragedy deepened Thursday morning when another crane operated by the same company collapsed at the Rama II Expressway construction site near Bangkok, claiming two additional lives. Verified dashcam footage obtained by AFP captured the terrifying moment when the massive structure plummeted, generating massive dust clouds and sending debris across the busy highway as vehicles scrambled to avoid falling wreckage.
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn confirmed Italian-Thai’s involvement in both incidents, expressing bewilderment at the consecutive failures. ‘We have to find out the facts, whether it was an accident or something else,’ the minister told local media. The company, one of Thailand’s largest construction contractors, has faced multiple deadly accidents at its sites in recent years.
The Rama II Expressway project, designed to connect Bangkok with southern regions, has earned the grim nickname ‘Death Road’ due to its history of fatal incidents. Prior to this week’s tragedies, the corridor witnessed a concrete beam collapse in March that killed several workers, a November 2024 crane accident that claimed three lives, and two additional fatal incidents in 2023 and early 2024.
At the Nakhon Ratchasima site, where the crane remains suspended from concrete pillars intended for the Thailand-China high-speed rail project, construction workers gathered Thursday to document the wreckage while relatives of victims conducted silent prayers. The Chinese-backed rail initiative represents a significant joint venture between the two nations.
Italian-Thai has issued formal condolences and committed to compensating victims’ families while covering all medical expenses. Thailand’s rail operator has ordered an immediate construction halt pending comprehensive investigation. Minister Phiphat has vowed accountability for all parties involved, including both Italian-Thai and their Chinese consultancy partners.