At least 32 people have been killed and 66 others injured after a construction crane fell onto a moving train in north-eastern Thailand.

The crane derailed the train and crushed some of its carriages, one of which caught fire. A one-year-old and an 85-year-old are among those injured, with seven people in critical condition, according to authorities.

Officials say some 171 passengers had been onboard the train when the accident occurred around 09:00 local time (02:00 GMT).

The State Railway of Thailand has launched an investigation into the incident and announced that it is taking legal action against the construction company responsible for the crane.

Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited expressed regret and stated it would provide compensation and relief to the families of those who died or were injured.

The train was traveling from Bangkok to the north-eastern Ubon Ratchathani province when the accident occurred, carrying mostly students and workers heading for school and jobs in other areas.

Local outlet The Nation reported that the incident occurred while the crane was lifting a large concrete section, which then dropped onto the train, causing four coaches to derail.

Survivor and train staff member Thirasak Wongsoongnern described the ordeal, stating he and the passengers were thrown into the air when the crane collapsed.

An eyewitness recounted the moment the crane fell, describing fragments of concrete that started falling before the crane slid down and struck the train.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is scheduled to visit the scene, demanded accountability for the incident, stating that it could only result from negligence or deviations from safety protocols.

The crane was part of a US$5.4 billion project building an overhead railway linking Bangkok to Laos, where a Chinese high-speed rail line is already operational.

The State Railway of Thailand has announced it is suing the construction company, with initial damages for the train carriages reported to exceed 100 million baht (US$3.1 billion).

The construction firm had previously been involved in other high-profile incidents, including a skyscraper that collapsed during an earthquake last year, prompting ongoing scrutiny over their safety practices.

Thailand has a history of construction-related accidents, attributed to weak enforcement of safety regulations.