Mexican officials announced on Sunday that a derailment of an Interoceanic Train in the southern state of Oaxaca resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 13 individuals. The train, carrying a total of 250 people, including nine crew members and 241 passengers, veered off track near Nizanda.
Out of the passengers on board, 139 were confirmed to be safe, while 98 sustained injuries, with 36 currently receiving medical attention. President Claudia Sheinbaum disclosed that five of the injured individuals were in critical condition, and emphasized that high-ranking officials had been sent to the scene to provide support to the families of the deceased.
Salomon Jara Cruz, the governor of Oaxaca, expressed his sympathies to the families affected by the accident and stated that state authorities were collaborating with federal agencies to offer assistance to those impacted. The Mexican Attorney General’s Office, as per a social media announcement by Attorney General Ernestina Godoy Ramos, has initiated an investigation into the incident.
The Interoceanic Train, which was launched in 2023 during the tenure of former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, is a component of the broader Interoceanic Corridor project. This project aims to modernize the railway system linking the Pacific port of Salina Cruz with Coatzacoalcos on the Gulf Coast via the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
The Mexican government’s vision is to transform the isthmus into a vital trade route by enhancing port facilities, railway networks, and industrial infrastructure, with the ultimate goal of establishing a competitive alternative to the Panama Canal. Additionally, the train service is part of a larger strategy to expand both passenger and freight rail services in southern Mexico, fostering economic growth in the region.