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A series of deadly construction accidents in Thailand has prompted Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to terminate contracts with the responsible contractors following two major crane collapses in as many days that claimed dozens of lives.
On Thursday morning, a construction crane collapsed onto an elevated section of Rama 2 Road expressway in Samut Sakhon province near Bangkok, killing two people and crushing two vehicles beneath the wreckage. Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn confirmed the fatalities at the site, which is part of a major highway extension project.
The incident came just one day after another crane collapse in northeastern Thailand caused a passenger train derailment that killed 32 people and injured nearly 70 others. Officials have ended the search for survivors in that incident after determining that three passengers initially reported as missing had disembarked earlier. Among the dead were a South Korean man in his late 30s and a German national, according to their respective foreign ministries.
The back-to-back disasters have focused scrutiny on construction safety standards in Thailand, particularly on projects involving Italian-Thai Development (Italthai), the lead contractor implicated in both accidents. The company has issued statements offering condolences and pledging to assist with recovery efforts and investigations.
Italthai has a troubled safety record. The company was also co-lead contractor for the State Audit Building in Bangkok that collapsed during an earthquake last March, killing approximately 100 people. That incident led to indictments of 23 individuals and companies, including Italthai’s president and a director from China Railway No. 10, their joint venture partner, on charges including professional negligence causing death and document forgery.
The high-speed rail project where Wednesday’s train accident occurred is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to connect China with Southeast Asia through improved transportation infrastructure. This project has experienced previous safety issues, including a railway tunnel collapse in Nakhon Ratchasima last August that killed three workers.
Anan Phonimdaeng, acting governor of the State Railway of Thailand, noted that while Italthai is the primary contractor on the railway project, a Chinese company is responsible for design and construction supervision. Similarly, several Bangkok-area expressway extensions involving Italthai and Chinese companies have experienced multiple accidents, some fatal.
Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jianwei met with Prime Minister Anutin on Thursday to express condolences over the railway incident. The ambassador pledged full cooperation in the investigation while emphasizing the project’s importance to bilateral strategic cooperation between Thailand and China.
Following emergency meetings with relevant government agencies, Prime Minister Anutin, who has an engineering background and worked as an executive in the construction industry before entering politics, announced decisive action against the contractors.
“I have ordered the Transport Ministry to immediately terminate contracts with the contractors involved in the two recent major accidents,” Anutin stated. “These companies will be blacklisted and face full legal prosecution.”
The government plans to secure new contractors for unfinished projects, financing the transition by seizing performance bonds and bank guarantees from the terminated contractors. Anutin noted that the government reserves the right to sue the companies for any additional costs incurred.
To prevent future safety lapses, the government is developing a “scorecard” system to track contractors’ performance records. This regulatory mechanism is expected to be implemented by early February.
The Rama 2 Road expressway extension, where Thursday’s accident occurred, has developed a reputation for construction mishaps, highlighting broader concerns about infrastructure project safety across Thailand as the country undergoes rapid development.
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12 Comments
Construction site safety is a major issue that needs to be addressed in Thailand. These crane collapses that have resulted in multiple fatalities are unacceptable and indicate systemic problems that must be fixed.
Absolutely. The government needs to take a hard look at the regulatory environment and enforcement around construction safety. Tougher standards and accountability measures are clearly required.
Tragic news. Back-to-back construction accidents resulting in dozens of fatalities is very concerning. It’s critical that the government thoroughly investigates these incidents and takes decisive action to improve safety and oversight.
Absolutely. Negligence or cutting corners on safety should not be tolerated. Hopefully these events spur the authorities to enact tougher regulations and enforcement to protect workers and the public.
It’s concerning to see such a high number of construction-related fatalities in Thailand in such a short time. These incidents highlight the need for stronger regulations and enforcement around construction site safety.
Absolutely. The government should thoroughly investigate the causes and take decisive action to hold negligent companies accountable and implement more rigorous safety standards.
These crane collapses are horrifying. My heart goes out to the victims and their loved ones. The authorities must get to the bottom of what caused these accidents and make the necessary changes to construction safety standards.
Agreed. Lax safety procedures and oversight in the construction industry can have devastating consequences. Reforms are clearly needed to prevent future tragedies of this nature.
My condolences to the victims and their families. These crane collapses are unacceptable. I hope the authorities take swift action to identify the issues and make the necessary changes to prevent future tragedies.
I agree. Clearly more oversight and safety protocols are needed in Thailand’s construction industry. These incidents are a wake-up call that must lead to meaningful reforms.
These crane collapses are tragic. Construction safety must be a top priority to prevent further loss of life. Hopefully the investigations uncover the root causes and lead to improved standards and oversight in Thailand.
Agreed. Proper training, maintenance, and safety protocols are essential for dangerous construction work. Reforms are needed to better protect workers and the public.