Overview
- Thailand’s health ministry and provincial officials report 32 dead and roughly 64–67 hospitalized, with several in critical condition and a small number unaccounted for.
- The three‑car Special Express 21 derailed and caught fire near Ban Thanon Kho in Nakhon Ratchasima after an elevated‑viaduct crane fell onto it around 9 a.m. local time.
- Firefighters contained the blaze and rescuers used hydraulic cutters to reach trapped passengers, with operations briefly paused due to a reported chemical leak.
- Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn ordered an investigation, and the State Railway said clearing and repairs could take about a week as victim identification proceeds.
- Italian‑Thai Development, the contractor on the Bangkok–Nong Khai high‑speed line, issued condolences, pledged compensation, and faces heightened scrutiny of safety practices.