Thai Minister Links Second Deadly Crane Collapse in 48 Hours to Italian-Thai Development
Image Source: Internet
A devastating crane collapse near Bangkok on Thursday resulted in two fatalities, just a day after a massive crane fell on a high-speed rail project in Nakhon Ratchasima province, killing 32 people. Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn confirmed that Italian-Thai Development, a major Thai construction firm, was involved in both incidents. Car dashcam footage captured the moment the massive crane fell on Thursday, sending clouds of dust and debris into the air as nearby vehicles narrowly escaped the wreckage. The company had been contracted to build a section of the China-backed high-speed rail project where the previous crane collapse occurred. "We must investigate the facts to determine whether this was an accident or something more sinister," Minister Phiphat said, adding that the company's safety record has been marred by several deadly incidents in recent years. The Rama II Expressway, where the second crane collapsed, has been plagued by delays and fatalities, earning it the nickname 'Death Road.' A concrete beam collapse in March killed several people, while a crane collapse in November 2024 resulted in at least three worker fatalities. Italian-Thai has expressed condolences and promised to compensate the victims' families and cover medical expenses for the injured. The transport minister has vowed to hold all parties involved accountable, including the company and a Chinese consultancy firm. The investigation into the incidents is ongoing.
