Orders construction halt following two deadly accidents

Two deadly gantry collapse accidents in two days have prompted Thailand's government to order a 15-day work stoppage and launch safety inspections on major infrastructure projects.

Thailand’s Transport Ministry has ordered Italian-Thai Development to stop work on 14 contracts for 15 days following two deadly construction accidents within 48 hours. The government has also halted other large-scale projects for safety inspections.

The move comes after 32 people were killed when a gantry launcher collapsed onto a train on a high-speed railway project in Nakhon Ratchasima on 14 January. A day later, two more people died when another gantry launcher fell onto vehicles on the Rama II elevated highway construction project near Bangkok.

Deputy permanent secretary of Thailand’s Transport Ministry, Chirapong Theppithuck, said safety teams would conduct detailed inspections on the halted projects to ensure standards were being met.

Prime Minister orders action

On 15 January, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul chaired a meeting to discuss safety measures for transport construction projects.

A government statement highlighted that both incidents involved the same contractor, and noted multiple previous incidents over the past 10 months. These included the collapse of the State Audit Office building following an earthquake in April 2025 and a structural collapse on the Rama II elevated highway.

“Such incidents are unacceptable and cannot be allowed to continue,” the statement said. The Prime Minister ordered the two-week construction halt and demanded a report before operations can resume.

Contract termination and legal action

The government also announced plans to terminate construction contracts with the contractor and pursue legal actions, including blacklisting.

“The government will proceed as per the advice and guidance of the Council of State and Office of the Attorney General to protect public interest, ensure people’s safety, and boost international confidence,” the statement said.

The Prime Minister emphasised the need for concrete measures to restore public confidence, support bereaved families, and maintain trust among international investors.