Train Derailment in Southern Mexico Results in 13 Fatalities and 98 Injuries

An Interoceanic Train carrying 250 people derailed near Nizanda in Oaxaca state on Sunday, resulting in 13 fatalities and 98 injuries, according to Mexican authorities. The train, which connects the Pacific and Gulf coasts, was navigating a curve when it went off the rails.

Of the 250 individuals on board—241 passengers and nine crew members—139 were reported to be out of danger. Among the injured, 36 are receiving medical attention, with five in serious condition.

President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that the Secretary of the Navy and other senior officials have been dispatched to assist the affected families. Oaxaca Governor Salomon Jara expressed condolences and confirmed that multiple government agencies are involved in the response efforts.

The Interoceanic Train, inaugurated in 2023 under former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, is part of an initiative to develop infrastructure along the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, aiming to create a strategic trade corridor between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

The Mexican Attorney General's Office has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the derailment.