NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand – Construction work on a tunnel for the Thailand-China high-speed railway project in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, has been temporarily suspended following the deaths of three workers. The incident occurred after a landslide trapped a Chinese foreman, a Chinese backhoe operator, and a Myanmar worker inside the tunnel on August 24.
Rescue efforts retrieved the body of the Myanmar worker on Thursday, with the bodies of the two Chinese workers discovered shortly thereafter. The cause of death for the Myanmar worker was confirmed as suffocation, while autopsy results for the two Chinese workers are still pending.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has ordered a halt to the project while the construction company, Nawarat Patanakarn, reviews its plans. The company’s director stated that an investigation into the incident would be beneficial to determine the cause and prevent future tragedies.
Caretaker Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and praised the rescue team’s efforts. The Department of Labor Protection and Welfare has also been tasked with providing support to the victims’ families. (NNT)
