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He insisted that the victims’ families deserved a payout in the seven-figure range.
January 15, 2026, 05:03 PM
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has rejected a proposed 40,000 baht (S$1,636) compensation for victims of a fatal accident where a large construction crane used for railway track installation collapsed onto the tracks, and a moving train collided with it.
Following the accident, Anutin visited the accident site on Jan. 14, 2026, Thaiger reported, adding that he was briefed by officials from the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC).
The officials told Anutin that the initial compensation plan comprised 40,000 baht (S$1,636) for funeral expenses and an additional 40,000 baht (S$1,636) in support.
Thiager reported that insurance coverage from two providers totals 50 million baht (S$204,5475), though it is unclear if this sum includes all victims or only third parties.
Criticised
In response to this, Anutin criticised the compensation package, insisting that victims’ families deserved a payout in the seven-figure range.
He stated that a payout of 80,000 baht (S$3,272) per victim was unrealistic and did not reflect the seriousness of the incident due to the high number of fatalities.
Anutin added that the compensation is not enough and “should be in the millions”, The Nation Thailand reported, adding that he called this a “slap in the face”, not just “to the victims’ families”, but “to the government as well”.
Serious accident
This comes after the accident happened on the morning of Jan. 14 in Sikhio, Nakhon Ratchasima.
At around 9:45am, the high-speed train struck the construction crane blocking its path, which, according to Thaiger, caused more than 30 people to be killed.
The incident also left 55 people injured, with about 190 people reportedly trapped inside the carriages, according to The Nation Thailand.
Following the accident, emergency medical teams and rescue workers worked to free trapped passengers using iron cutters.
In addition, the rescue operation was said to be difficult due to the overlap of the crane and the train’s structure.
Investigation
In light of this accident, Thairath reported that SRT’s acting governor has ordered a fact-finding committee to be established in order to expedite the investigation into the accident, which is to be completed in 15 days.
Anutin also said that the SRT must also file a formal complaint against the contractor, and law enforcement agencies need to conduct a full investigation into the cause of the incident.
In addition, the transport minister said the construction contract already required all work to stop during train operations and an investigation will be conducted to determine why this clause was not followed.
The contractor has been ordered to cease operations in the area until the investigation is complete, Thairath reported, adding that a disaster relief coordination centre has been established at the scene.
This will see relevant personnel on duty 24 hours a day to provide assistance and continuous reports on the situation.
Top photos via Fire & Rescue Thailand/Facebook, Anutin/FB
