Thailand’s construction industry is under intense public scrutiny following a string of deadly accidents that have raised questions about safety standards, regulatory oversight, and the accountability of major contractors. The latest incidents, occurring just days apart, have amplified public concern and provoked calls for urgent reforms.
On Thursday, January 15, a construction crane collapsed onto a busy road in Bangkok, killing two people. This tragedy came just a day after a crane fell onto a moving passenger train, claiming the lives of 32 commuters. Both incidents have drawn attention to Italian-Thai Development, widely known as Italthai, the contractor responsible for the sites of both accidents.
Italthai has a long history in Thailand’s construction sector, having led or co-led many government and private projects. The company was also a joint lead contractor for the 33-story State Audit Office building in Bangkok, which collapsed last March during construction, killing approximately 100 workers. The collapse was particularly unusual as it occurred after a minor earthquake whose epicenter was more than 1,300 kilometers away in Myanmar.
Following the collapse, 23 individuals and companies were indicted, including Italthai’s President, Premchai Karnasuta. Charges included professional negligence causing death and document forgery. Despite this, Italthai has consistently denied wrongdoing, including in the more recent crane accidents.
The twin accidents last week have reignited public outrage, particularly in Bangkok, where construction mishaps on major infrastructure projects are a recurring concern. Residents and commuters have expressed anger over the apparent lack of accountability, safety enforcement, and transparency in the construction sector.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul responded swiftly to the crises, instructing the Transport Ministry to terminate contracts with, blacklist, and prosecute the companies responsible. He also ordered that unfinished projects be funded through the seizure of performance bonds and bank guarantees, with the government reserving the right to pursue additional costs in court. To prevent similar issues, a “scorecard” system tracking contractor performance is expected to be implemented by early February.
Experts note that while investigators can usually pinpoint immediate causes of accidents—such as human error or mechanical failure—the underlying issues often reflect deeper systemic problems. “I don’t think Thailand fails in terms of the body of knowledge in engineering or even in the technical aspects,” said Panudech Chumyen, a civil engineering lecturer at Thammasat University in Bangkok. “I think there’s a failure in our system; there are so many gaps that I don’t know where we should begin to close them.”
Panudech highlighted multiple challenges, including weak law enforcement, bureaucratic red tape, inconsistent safety policies among project stakeholders, and a shortage of independent assessors without conflicts of interest. These gaps, he argued, frequently result in performance reports that fail to reflect reality, putting workers and the public at risk.
The involvement of Chinese companies in major Thai construction projects has further complicated the landscape. Wednesday’s train accident occurred on a line that is part of the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway linking Bangkok to northeastern Thailand, a segment of Beijing’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. The initiative has faced scrutiny globally for alleged corruption, substandard work, and opaque practices.
The State Audit Office building collapse last year also involved a Chinese contractor, China Railway No. 10, which co-led the project with Italthai. Following the collapse, Thailand charged the Bangkok representative, Zhang Chuanling, with violating the Foreign Business Act for using Thai nationals as nominee shareholders to conceal Chinese control of the company’s local affiliate.
Public outrage has extended to social media, where Thais have circulated images of “tofu buildings”—a term used to describe structures built with substandard materials that crumble easily. The phrase became widely recognized after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China, and it has been invoked to criticize projects linked to Chinese contractors in Thailand.
China’s ambassador to Thailand, Zhang Jianwei, addressed the issue on Thursday, stating that Chinese companies must follow local regulations when operating overseas. He emphasized Beijing’s willingness to cooperate with Thai authorities and guide Chinese firms in adhering to safety standards.
For many Thais, however, the assurances offer little comfort. The repeated tragedies have highlighted not just individual failures but systemic weaknesses that compromise public safety. As the government seeks to implement stricter regulations, enforce performance tracking, and hold contractors accountable, experts warn that meaningful reform will require sustained oversight, cultural change, and coordination across multiple agencies.
The incidents underscore the urgent need to close the gaps that allow unsafe construction practices to persist. “We need comprehensive reforms, from design and material verification to oversight and enforcement,” said Panudech. “Otherwise, tragedies like these will continue to happen, and public trust will keep eroding.”
As investigators continue to examine the latest crane collapses, public attention remains firmly on Italthai and other contractors involved in Thailand’s sprawling infrastructure projects. With Prime Minister Anutin’s tough stance signaling a shift toward stricter accountability, the coming months may determine whether the government can restore confidence in a construction sector long plagued by deadly lapses.
