A deadly construction crane collapse has struck Thailand for the second consecutive day, killing two people on a highway in Samut Sakhon, a suburban area of Bangkok. The catastrophic incident occurred Thursday as the crane, operated by Italian-Thai Development PLC, was being used for expressway construction before crashing onto the roadway below.
Dramatic footage captured the moment the massive structure gave way, crushing vehicles beneath its weight and blanketing the area in thick dust and debris. This tragedy follows Wednesday’s equally devastating accident in Nakhon Ratchasima province, where a crane collapsed onto a moving train, resulting in 32 fatalities and over 60 injuries.
Both construction projects were managed by Italian-Thai Development, one of Thailand’s largest construction firms currently facing intense scrutiny. The company has a troubling safety record, including responsibility for a Bangkok skyscraper that collapsed during an earthquake in March when no other structures in the city were damaged.
The latest collapse occurred on a route notoriously nicknamed ‘Death Road’ by local media due to its history of fatal accidents. According to AFP reports, approximately 150 people have lost their lives in numerous accidents over the past seven years on this road improvement project connecting Bangkok to southern regions.
The repeated tragedies have exposed critical weaknesses in Thailand’s construction safety enforcement. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has pledged to address construction negligence following Wednesday’s incident, while the State Railway of Thailand has initiated legal action against Italian-Thai Development for the train catastrophe.