Rescue workers cut open a wrecked train compartment to free many of the passengers stuck inside following a collision between a Thon Buri-bound train and a stationary Yala-bound train in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, at 2.42am yesterday. The damage caused

Three people were killed and more than 100 injured after two trains collided at Nong Kae railway station near Hua Hin town early yesterday.

The three dead included two railway workers and a train hostess. Four foreign tourists were among the injured.

At press time, eight victims including a seven-year-old girl and a monk remained in hospital.

There was pandemonium as a Thon Buri-bound train collided at 2.42am with a stationary Yala-bound train waiting on a diversion track. Five carriages were derailed and passengers awoke to a nightmare.

"I was sleeping when I heard an extremely loud bang. When I opened my eyes, things were scattered all around and people were screaming. I tried to see outside but it was so dark," Anas Yodkham, a 59-year-old passenger, said. He suffered minor injuries.

"I'm lucky that I survived," Anas said after seeing the damaged train carriages from the outside.

Medical professionals and rescue workers were quickly on the scene.

Yala-bound locomotive engineer Paijit Chuyod was killed in the accident.

Train hostess Wanida Phokhan, who worked for JM Food Industry Co Ltd, died shortly after being rescued from the debris.

Rescue workers battled for four hours to extricate railway technician Theerapon Boonchai from the wreckage but he later lost consciousness and died.

Paijit and Theerapon were State Railway of Thailand (SRT) employees.

SRT board chairman Siva Saengmanee estimated damage caused by the accident at between Bt150 million and Bt200 million.

He said initial investigations suggested the north-bound passenger train ran a stop signal and collided with the other train, which was stationary on a rail siding.

The exact cause will be determined by a full-scale investigation conducted by a specially-appointed fact-finding team.

The SRT cleared the tracks and rail services resumed as usual by 7.10am.

Public Health Ministry spokesman Dr Suphan Sritham-ma said the collision left more than 100 injured but many

suffered only minor cuts and bruises.

"The hospitalised victims are out of danger now," he said.

Prachuap Khiri Khan Governor Prasong Pitoonkijja said the accident was the first rail collision he knew of in his province.

The injured foreigners are believed to be from Taiwan, Italy and Germany.

They have been treated and discharged.

The Nation

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN