A CRANE used in the construction of a high-speed rail project fell on top of an express diesel train heading from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province with 208 passengers aboard just as it was passing Nakhon Ratchasima province (Korat) with latest death toll being 22 and around 80 people injured, Naewna newspaper said this afternoon (Jan. 14).
As the crane fell on the second carriage, number 2521, which was carrying 40 passengers, a fire broke out and it also pulled the third carriage off the track.
Passengers were trapped because the air-conditioned carriage had automatic electric doors and the windows could not be opened.
Soon after the accident a special emergency rescue train from the Mechanical Engineering Division, Zone 2, Korat, rushed to the scene. Rescuers are using another crane to lift the derailed carriage with this operation currently under way while the Bangkok-Northeast railway line remains closed.
So far 13 bodies have been recovered from the second carriage, which was crushed by the falling crane and caught fire, among the deceased is one child with two more bodies still trapped inside and recovery efforts are proceeding.
The air-conditioned express diesel train No. 21, travelling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathan, was operated Mr. Ekaphon, the driver, Mr. Theerawat, the engineer, Mr. Viroj, the maintenance official, and Mr. Theerasak, the brakeman. The train departed Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal at 5 a.m., with 208 passengers on board, travelling at 120 kilometres an hour.
The crane that fell on this train was being used to build a bridge for the high-speed railway project with the 1669 emergency centre in Korat being informed that the latest count is around 80 passengers injured and 22 dead.
Each carriage of this train had 76 seats. Of the three of the carriages involved in this accident, all of them air-conditioned, the first one was unharmed, the second was severely damaged and reduced to scrap metal after being hit by the falling crane, and the third one derailed. Injuries were reported across all three carriages.
Ambulances from Sikhio Hospital, along with rescue teams from Phromtham Sikhio and Hook 31 Sikhio, transported the injured to Sikhio Hospital, Sung Noen Hospital, Pak Chong Nana Hospital, and Debaratana in Korat.
CAPTION:
Scenes from this accident in Korat. Photos – Naewna
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