A construction crane collapsed onto a roadway near Bangkok on Thursday, killing two people and injuring others, just one day after a separate crane failure in northeastern Thailand derailed a passenger train and left dozens dead.
Thai authorities said the latest incident occurred in Samut Sakhon province while workers were building an elevated highway. The crane fell onto traffic below, crushing two vehicles, according to local police.
The accident intensified pressure on the government and on construction firm Italian Thai Development PCL, which officials confirmed was involved in both this crash and Wednesday’s deadly rail disaster in Nakhon Ratchasima province.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the government would terminate two state contracts linked to the projects involved in the fatal accidents and pursue legal action against the contractor.
“The Ministry of Transport has been instructed to cancel the contracts, pursue all legal remedies available, and place the contractors on a blacklist,” Anutin told reporters.
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn added that roughly a dozen ongoing state projects involving Italian Thai Development have been ordered to stop while safety reviews are carried out.
Italian Thai Development, founded in 1958, said it would take responsibility for compensation and support related to both incidents.
In a statement filed with the Thai stock exchange, the company said it would strengthen safety standards across its construction sites and review procedures to prevent similar failures.
The Bangkok area crash followed Wednesday’s catastrophe in Nakhon Ratchasima, where a crane collapsed onto a moving train, causing it to derail and catch fire. Authorities said thirty two passengers were killed in that incident, one of the deadliest rail disasters in recent Thai history.
Read Also: Thailand Cambodia Border Dispute Tests Fragile Ceasefire
Thailand has seen repeated fatal construction accidents in recent years. Several have involved Italian Thai Development, including the collapse of a partially built tower in Bangkok last year during a powerful earthquake that killed at least eighty nine people and led to criminal negligence charges.
Images from Thursday’s scene showed twisted metal, shattered concrete slabs, and severely damaged cars as emergency crews worked through dust and debris. Video footage broadcast by Thai Rath showed motorists reversing to escape falling rubble moments after the collapse.
