Nakhon ratchasima: Officials from Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited estimate it will take two days to safely lower the construction crane involved in the tragic incident on the Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani railway line. The crane collapse resulted in the deaths of 32 people and injured over 60 in Sikhiu District when its base gave way and fell onto passenger train number 21.

According to Thai News Agency, the officials initially planned to use existing cranes to lower the collapsed crane. However, concerns arose over whether these cranes could manage the heavy weight, leading to a revised plan. An additional eight cranes have been requested and are expected to arrive by this evening. Visibility issues mean that the operation to lower the crane will not begin until tomorrow, with completion anticipated by Saturday, January 17th. Following this, the State Railway of Thailand will require approximately six hours to repair the affected railway track, potentially allowing train services to resume by Monday, January 19th, pending safety clearance.

Dr. Suchatvee Suwansawat, former president of the Council of Engineers, visited the site and suggested that operator error likely caused the crane to become imbalanced. He pointed out that this incident resulted from negligence or inadequate maintenance rather than being an unforeseen accident. Dr. Suchatvee highlighted that global safety standards typically prohibit activities beneath construction sites and noted differences in crane construction materials between Thailand and other countries, which may contribute to safety risks.

Throughout the day, grieving relatives of the victims visited the scene, including three daughters who performed a ritual to invite their parents' spirits back to Bangkok. The couple had intended to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary in Ubon Ratchathani. Other relatives expressed concerns about the safety standards of large-scale construction projects in the country, citing a history of similar incidents.