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 traveling 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.
One of the train carriages had caught fire from the collision, which further complicated rescue efforts. Emergency responders used cranes and hydraulic cutting tools to free passengers trapped in the wreckage.
She recalls being torn between fear and courage. I'm still scared when I think about it. I still remember that moment, running in to help them, when there was no one else there yet. They were crying. It was terrifying.
The crane involved was being used to build an overhead railway as part of a US$5.4 billion China-backed project. Many questions remain unanswered.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has called for an investigation, while the State Railway of Thailand has said it is suing the firm in charge of the construction. This incident raises concerns about construction safety standards in the country, as past incidents have led to numerous casualties.
