At least 31 dead after crane falls on to train in Thailand

At least 31 people have been killed after a construction crane fell on top of a moving train in northeast Thailand, the Health Ministry said.

Another 64 have been injured after the crane hit one of the carriages, causing the train to derail and briefly catch fire. Officials said the identities of the passengers and staff on board the train, which was bound for Ubon Ratchathani province, are still being verified, and the number of victims may rise.

Anuphong Suksomnit, the governor of Nakhon Ratchasima province, where the accident took place, said four passengers among the 171 believed to have been on board the train are still missing. Thailand transport minister Piphat Ratchakitprakan said he has ordered an investigation into the accident, with rescue efforts ongoing.

He expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and his concern for all passengers and members of the public affected, according to a government statement. The crane was being used in work on a high-speed rail project in the ​Sikhio district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, some 143 miles northeast of ‍Bangkok.

Read more from Sky News:Iranian ambassador summoned over response to protestsRussia is waging hybrid war through 'disposable agents' Images published by Thai media showed clouds of white and later dark smoke rising from the site, with construction machinery dangling between two concrete support pillars. Footage from public broadcaster ThaiPBS showed rescue workers standing on top of overturned rail carriages, some ripped open along their sides, while what appeared to be parts of the crane lay scattered across the tracks.

The collapsed elevated section forms part of a Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project connecting Bangkok with the northeastern border province of Nong Khai. The two-phase development, valued at around 520 billion baht (about £12.3 billion), is linked to China's broader Belt and Road Initiative aimed at improving regional connectivity across Southeast Asia.

The Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited, which was contracted to build the segment, released a statement expressing sorrow and stating that it would offer compensation and support to the families of those killed or injured in the crane collapse. The company, also known as Italthai, co-led the construction of Bangkok's State Audit Building, which collapsed during construction in March following a Myanmar earthquake, killing around 100 people.

Dozens of executives were indicted, but none have gone to trial. Chinese firms' involvement in this and other projects, including several Bangkok expressway extensions where some accidents were fatal, has drawn scrutiny.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, interior minister at the time of the collapse, said the Comptroller General's Department and Transport Ministry handle contractor blacklisting, and laws could not be changed quickly to expedite action. In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning expressed condolences, emphasizing that safety is a priority and noting the section involved was being built by a Thai company while the cause remains under investigation..