Wikipedia

2026 Bangkok train collision

On 16 May 2026, a heavy freight train collided with a bus and several other vehicles at a level crossing near Makkasan station in Bangkok, Thailand, causing a massive fire and several explosions. Eight people were killed, while 33 others were injured.

2026 Bangkok train collision
A picture of the scene after the collision
Map
Details
Date16 May 2026
16:35 ICT (UTC+07:00)
LocationMakkasan, Ratchathewi, Bangkok
Coordinates13°45′00.6″N 100°33′48.4″E / 13.750167°N 100.563444°E / 13.750167; 100.563444
Country Thailand
LineEastern Line
Operator
Incident typeLevel crossing accident, collision
CauseAutomatic crossing barriers malfunction and toxicated driver (suspected)
Statistics
Vehicles10
Passengers0
Deaths8
Injured33

Collision

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The Asok train stop sign in 2023, with the level crossing in the background

The train, Train No. 2126, was travelling from Laem Chabang to Bang Sue Junction railway station when it collided with a BMTA Route 206 passenger bus and a motorcycle at a level crossing on Asok-Din Daeng Road near the Bangkok Airport Rail Link's Makkasan station, immediately triggering a massive fire and throwing several motorcycles and their riders onto the road.[1][2][3] The bus had stopped on the tracks while waiting at a red light amid heavy traffic, preventing the crossing barriers from closing.[4][5] After the collision, the bus was fully engulfed in minutes, causing explosions when fire reached the fuel tank. The train pushed the wreckage along the tracks for about 50 metres (160 ft), striking several nearby cars and motorcycles, causing the fire to spread rapidly to adjacent vehicles.[6] A video from the scene showed the train heavily charred by fire.[7] The fire was extinguished in less than an hour.[8] Six motorcycles, a car, a pickup truck and the bus were struck by the train.[9] The number of occupants on board the bus is unknown, however, all occupants were recovered.[10][11]

Victims

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Eight people were killed and 33 others were injured, including two in critical condition.[12] Some sources claim 35 people were injured.[13] The injured victims were transported to various hospitals, including six at the Camillian Hospital.[14] 15 injured people were discharged a day after the collision.[12] The Prime Minister of Thailand, Anutin Charnvirakul, instructed relevant agencies to care for the injured and support the families of the deceased.[15] All eight of the fatalities were on the bus.[8][16] The bodies of the deceased victims were burnt beyond recognition. Body parts were also found near the front of the train's cargo container. It is unclear if it is from someone on the bus.[3] Forensic officers expect to confirm the identities of all deceased victims by 19 May. By 17 May, authorities identified two victims as 34-year-old Teekha Teekha-Utmakorn and 57-year-old Tiam Phuangyod of Ban Kratai Don, Sisaket Province.[17][12] Eight bodies and three additional remains were sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine.[18]

One of the passengers on the bus, a 66 year old named Aiyang from Samut Prakan, was captured on CCTV the moment the train hit the bus. She was on the phone with her niece, Sirilak, when the collision happened.[19] Aiyang also had her photo taken the day of the crash.[20][21] Another woman on the bus, 25-year-old Vipharakh Phaopuree (also known as Rosemary and Rose), posted a photo inside the bus to her social media moments before the crash. Both passengers are believed to be one of the as-of-yet unidentified deaths.[22]

Investigation

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Witnesses said the crossing's safety barriers appeared to be malfunctioning prior to the collision.[8] Anutin ordered a formal investigation into the accident which will examine a range of issues, including whether safety barriers were lowered at the crossing.[23][24] The Department of Rail Transport launched an investigation.[25] Police revealed that the train driver tested positive for methamphetamine, while inspection on the event data recorder of the train revealed that the train driver only applied emergency brakes 100 m (330 ft) before the crash, whereas the safe distance of using the brakes were at least 2 km (1.2 mi).[26][27]

Aftermath

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The collision delayed train operations, with buses being dispatched to transport stranded passengers.[28] In the early hours of 17 May, BMTA used a crane to remove the bus from the crossing and move it to the Rama IX depot.[18] BMTA pledged initial compensation of about 1.5 million baht for every person killed and 80,000-500,000 baht for those injured.[29][25] 46-year-old Sayomporn Suankul, the train operator, and 56-year-old Lapit Thongboon, the bus driver, were charged with reckless driving causing death, while a railway crossing barrier operator was charged with negligence causing death and injury.[26][30] Many people online were outraged after a video published by a witness allegedly showed railway barriers failing to close moments before the collision.[31] The collision renewed warnings that motorists must not follow traffic onto railway crossings during congestion unless they are sure there is enough space to clear the tracks completely, as the risk can be fatal.[32]

Reactions

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The Embassy of China, Bangkok said in a statement that they expressed deep condolences and sincere concern for the families of the deceased and injured, wishing the injured a swift recovery.[33]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Train-bus collision kills at least 8 in Bangkok". Gulf News. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  2. ↑ "Eight found dead after freight train hits Bangkok bus near Makkasan". The Nation. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 "รถไฟชนรถเมล์จุดตัดทางรถไฟอโศก เกิดไฟลุกท่วม เสียชีวิต 8 ราย บาดเจ็บ 32" [A train collided with a bus at the Asoke railway crossing, resulting in a fire that killed 8 people and injured 32.] (in Thai). BBC News. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  4. ↑ "Eight killed and dozens injured after freight train hits bus in Thailand". AnewZ. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "Freight train and bus crash kills at least eight in Bangkok". BBC News. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  6. ↑ "At least 8 dead in Bangkok bus-train collision". Bangkok Post. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "Cargo train hits a public bus in deadly crash at Bangkok rail crossing". MSN. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 "8 dead, 32 injured as train-bus collision sparks inferno at Makkasan crossing". Thai Public Broadcasting Service. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  9. ↑ "เปิดลิสต์ความเสียหายวิบัติกลางกรุง รถไฟสินค้าชนวินาศกวาดเรียบรถ 10 คัน" [A list of devastating damages in the heart of Bangkok has been released: a freight train collision wiped out 10 cars.] (in Thai). Amarin TV. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  10. ↑ "At Least 8 Dead, 35 Injured After Freight Train Smashes into Bus, Causing It to Burst into Flames Near Busy Airport". People. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  11. ↑ "A cargo train hits a public bus at a Bangkok rail crossing, killing at least 8". CTV News. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 "AUTHORITIES IDENTIFY TWO VICTIMS IN DEADLY BANGKOK TRAIN-BUS CRASH". Khaosod English. 17 May 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  13. ↑ "Freight train crashes into bus killing 8 in Bangkok, Thailand". United Press International. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  14. ↑ "PM Anutin orders relief and inquiry after Bangkok train-bus crash". The Nation. 17 May 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "Anutin orders full care for victims of Makkasan train-bus crash". The Nation. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  16. ↑ "At least eight dead, 32 injured in Thailand after freight train hits bus". Reuters. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  17. ↑ "พี่สาว "ป้าเทียม" เหยื่อ รถไฟชนรถเมล์ ร่ำไห้ อยากได้ชีวิตน้องคืนมา" [The older sister of "Aunt Thiam," a victim of the train-bus collision, wept, wishing she could have her sister back]. khaosod (in Thai). 2026-05-18. Retrieved 2026-06-04.
  18. 1 2 "DNA confirmation of Makkasan crash victims expected by Tuesday-". The Nation. 17 May 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  19. ↑ "หลานผู้สูญหาย รถไฟชนรถเมล์ นั่งตรงประตูกลาง เผยนาทีได้ยินเสียงร้อง" [Niece of the missing reveals her aunt sat near the center door of the bus in the train crash accident, as she heard scream over the phone call.]. Khaosod. 17 May 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  20. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=569sx-05wqE
  21. ↑ ปาฏิหาริย์ 1% "ป้าเอี้ยง" รอดชีวิต! สอบปากคำช่างเครื่อง ไข "รถไฟชนรถเมล์" | ลุยชนข่าว | 18 พ.ค. 69 [A 1% miracle: "Auntie Aiyang" survives! Interrogating the mechanic unravels the "train-bus collision"] (in Thai). 2026-05-18. Retrieved 2026-06-04 – via YouTube.
  22. ↑ "เปิดสตอรี่สุดท้าย "น้องโรส" ดีเจสาวเกียรตินิยม แม่บุญธรรมใจสลาย" [Heartbroken foster mother reveal the last online post of "Nong Rose", the young DJ with honor degree.]. Amarin TV. 17 May 2026. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  23. ↑ "Eight dead and 35 injured after train collides with public bus in Bangkok". ABC News. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  24. ↑ "Bangkok train-bus crash kills 8, Thai PM orders investigation". South China Morning Post. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  25. 1 2 "Rail agency probes Makkasan crash as BMTA pledges compensation". The Nation. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  26. 1 2 "Deadly crossing crash — Train driver tests positive for drugs". The Nation. 17 May 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  27. ↑ "เตรียมฝากขัง "คนขับรถไฟ-คนโบกธง" ส่วนคนขับรถเมล์ จ่อถูกดำเนินคดีข้อหาประมาท" [Train engineer & flagman to face jailing as the bus driver were to be charged with manslaughter.]. Thairath. 18 May 2026. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  28. ↑ "รถไฟชนรถเมล์ กระทบหลายขบวน รฟท.ใช้รถ ขสมก.ขนผู้โดยสารจากหัวลำโพงไปหัวหมาก" [A train collided with a bus, affecting several services. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) used BMTA (Bangkok Mass Transit Authority) buses to transport passengers from Hua Lamphong to Hua Mak.] (in Thai). Thai Public Broadcasting Service. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  29. ↑ "ยอดผู้บาดเจ็บ-เสียชีวิต อุบัติเหตุ รถไฟชนรถเมล์ล่าสุด เจ็บ 32 ราย เสียชีวิต 8 ราย" [The latest death toll from the train-bus collision is 32 injured and 8 dead.] (in Thai). Matichon. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  30. ↑ "Bus and train drivers charged after deadly level crossing crash". Bangkok Post. 17 May 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  31. ↑ "Outrage erupts after witness video allegedly shows railway barrier failure before deadly Bangkok train crash". Pattaya Mail. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  32. ↑ "Makkasan crash sparks warning: Never enter rail crossing unless exit is clear". The Nation. 17 May 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  33. ↑ "Chinese embassy offers condolences after Bangkok train-bus crash". The Nation. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
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