Residents in Thailand's Ban Thanon Khot are accustomed to the rumbling of trains – rail is a key mode of transportation connecting the remote town with major cities.
But on Wednesday, the mundane rhythm ended in tragedy.
The noise was abnormally loud. A huge, crashing sound, said school volunteer Pitchaya Promenade. I saw a blue crane sliding. It seemed stuck for a moment, and suddenly it flipped over.
The construction crane had collapsed onto a moving train, killing at least 32 people and injuring 66 others. Most were students and workers travelling for school and work.
The BBC arrived at a grim scene in the evening, with rescuers still pulling bodies out of the mangled train. Parts of it were completely crushed.
If I had to describe the damage visually, it looked like a spoon scooping into a slice of cake, said Pitchaya, 32, who is trained in basic first aid and was able to attend to some of those wounded.
There were reports of one carriage catching fire post-collision, complicating rescue efforts. Emergency responders used cranes and hydraulic tools to free trapped passengers.
Witness Penporn Pumjantuek described scenes of horror, noting, People were screaming 'Help! Help!' and smoke was rising.
A one-year-old child and an 85-year-old were among those injured, with several in critical condition. Local officials are demanding an investigation, and action against the company responsible for the construction project linked to the accident.
Thailand has struggled with safety regulations in construction, and this devastating event continues to raise concerns about enforcement as investigations begin.
