4 Killed, 1 Missing In Thailand Crane Collapse

At least four people have been killed and dozens injured after a crane collapsed at a construction site in Bangkok early Saturday morning, police said.

Rescuers were working to retrieve a fifth body still trapped under the debris.

The accident occurred on Rama II Road, a major highway connecting the Thai capital to the country’s south, at a site where a tollway was being constructed.

“We have retrieved four bodies, but one remains trapped in the debris,” said senior police official Sayam Boonsom, adding that the fifth victim was presumed dead. Among the four confirmed fatalities, three were Thai nationals.

An eyewitness told a local outlet that he heard two loud bangs before seeing the crane collapse. “Workers were pouring cement when it happened,” he said.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse, Sayam added.

Construction site accidents are common in Thailand, where lax enforcement of safety regulations often leads to deadly incidents.

Bangkok has witnessed several construction-related tragedies in recent years. In 2023, at least two people were killed and a dozen injured when a road bridge under construction collapsed in the city.

In March 2024, seven people lost their lives in a crane accident at a factory east of the capital. Similarly, in November 2024, a crane collapse in Samut Sakhon, west of Bangkok, killed three workers and injured 10 others.

Authorities were yet to confirm whether negligence or structural failure played a role in Saturday’s incident.