22 killed as crane collapses on to passenger train in Thailand

A construction crane fell on to a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province. Picture: State Railway of Thailand/AP

A construction crane has fallen on to a passenger train in north-eastern Thailand, killing at least 22 people and injuring 64 others, officials said.

The crane, which was being used to build an elevated high-speed railway, collapsed on to the moving train as it was travelling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province, causing the train to derail and catch fire, according to Nakhon Ratchasima province’s Public Relations Department.

The accident occurred in Nakhon Ratchasima. The department there announced the rise in the death toll.

The department said in a Facebook post that the fire was under control and rescuers were searching for people trapped inside the train.

Transport minister Piphat Ratchakitprakan said there were 195 people on board the train. He added that he had ordered an investigation into the accident.