A crane collapsed onto a train killing at least 22 passengers and injuring dozens more in Thailand this morning.

The locomotive was taking hundreds of locals and tourists from the capital Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima province when the construction equipment plunged onto the tracks.

Passengers screamed as the vehicle smashed into the metal and more debris landed on the carriages. Several of the cars were derailed in the crash at around 9 am local time in the Ban Thanon Khot district of Nakhon Ratchasima.

Police and paramedics arrived at the scene, where they treated injured passengers. Many were trapped inside the mangled carriages.

Police superintendent Thatchapon Chinnawong said: 'The construction crane collapsed onto a running train leaving from Bangkok.

'At this stage, we are still unable to confirm the identities of the deceased, but the injured victims trapped inside the train have all been evacuated.

'The death toll currently stands at 22, with more than 50 people injured. Rescue teams are now working urgently to recover the wreckage.'

Dao Boonpanya, 70, a survivor who clambered from the wreckage, said: 'While the train was travelling, I was asleep and I suddenly heard a loud crash as a crane fell onto the roof of the train, then the locomotive dragged the crane along, causing the carriage to be torn off the tracks.'

A railway construction worker added: 'The crane being used for the high-speed rail project suddenly broke and fell down.
At that exact moment, the train involved in the accident was passing through the area, then the second and third carriages became entangled with the crane, causing the train to derail.'

Officials said the crane was being used in the construction of a concrete platform for a new high-speed train. They are investigating the cause of the incident.

Police said the service involved was the Special Express Train No. 21 (Bangkok–Ubon Ratchathani), which had left the capital a few hours earlier.

Victims were taken to the Sikhio Hospital, Sung Noen Hospital, and Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital.