A construction crane collapsed onto an elevated expressway near Bangkok on Thursday, killing two people and injuring five others, just one day after a similar accident killed at least 32 people when a crane fell onto a passenger train in northeastern Thailand. The incident occurred at a construction site for the Rama 2 Road expressway extension in Samut Sakhon province, trapping two vehicles in the wreckage.
The Rama 2 Road expressway project has earned the grim nickname 'Death Road' due to numerous fatal construction accidents in recent years. Local police confirmed that emergency responders rushed to the scene and extracted victims from the debris, with injured individuals transported to nearby hospitals. The expressway is a major artery leading from Bangkok and has been plagued by safety concerns throughout its construction.
The consecutive crane disasters have sparked national outrage over construction safety standards in Thailand. On Tuesday, a crane operated by contractor Italthai fell onto a moving passenger train carrying 171 people in Sikhio district, Nakhon Ratchasima province. That disaster killed at least 32 people, injured 66, and left eight missing. Authorities have launched investigations into both incidents.
Italthai, the contractor involved in the train disaster, has faced mounting criticism after being linked to previous construction failures. The company was a co-lead contractor for the State Audit Building in Bangkok that collapsed during construction last March following an earthquake centered in Myanmar, resulting in approximately 100 deaths. Twenty-three individuals and companies have been indicted in that case, including Italthai's president, on charges of professional negligence and document forgery.
Thailand's Transport Minister announced an immediate review of all ongoing construction projects nationwide. The government has ordered safety inspections of all crane operations and suspended work at several major infrastructure sites pending investigation. Families of victims from both incidents have demanded accountability and stricter enforcement of construction safety regulations.
International safety experts have called for Thailand to adopt more stringent construction oversight mechanisms. The back-to-back tragedies have raised questions about regulatory enforcement and contractor accountability in the country's rapidly expanding infrastructure sector. Officials stated that preliminary findings would be released within the coming weeks.
Public anger has intensified on social media, with calls for criminal prosecution of those responsible for the safety lapses. The government has pledged compensation for victims' families and promised comprehensive reforms to prevent future disasters.