Old video of train derailment in Thailand recirculated as 'accident in May 2025'

Published on May 28, 2025 at 11:09
Updated on May 28, 2025 at 11:10
3 min read
By Pasika KHERNAMNUOY, AFP Thailand

Footage showing a derailed train has circulated on social media with a false claim that it shows a recent accident in Thailand as the rainy season began. Heavy rainfalls are often blamed for railway accidents in the kingdom, but the clip was taken over a year ago.

"The train came off the rails yesterday. No one was injured. Everybody is safe," reads the Thai-language description to a Facebook reel published on May 20, 2025.

The video -- which has been watched over 32,000 times -- shows a group of people standing next to derailed carriages with puddles of water along the tracks.

Screenshot of the false post, taken on May 28, 2025

Heavy rainfalls are often blamed for railway accidents in Thailand, causing delays and line closures (archived here and here).

The Thai Meteorological Department announced the rainy season began on May 15, with above-average rainfall expected in the north and northeast through July (archived link).

The false claim was shared elsewhere on Facebook, which went on to say the clip was filmed in northern Thailand's Phrae province.

But a reverse image search using keyframes combined with keyword searches on Google led to an identical TikTok video posted on September 30, 2023 (archived link).

"A tourist became a victim. September 30, 2023 at 5:40 am. Train No. 13 derailed in Phrae province before reaching Ban Pin station. No one was injured," its Thai-language caption reads.

The user added in the comments that he was in a different carriage and heard a loud noise.

Screenshot comparison of the false post (left) and the 2023 original TikTok video

Local media reported that the Chiang Mai-bound train derailed in Phrae province in the early hours of the day (archived link).

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) published a statement giving updates on carriage removal and track repairs, along with pictures showing the same scene (archived link).

Service on the line resumed on the next day (archived link).

Screenshot comparisons of the false video (left) and the SRT photograph, with corresponding features highlighted by AFP

AFP has fact-checked other false claims spreading in Thailand here and here.

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