Interoceanic Train Derailment in Southern Mexico Results in 13 Fatalities and Dozens Injured

A train derailment in southern Mexico has resulted in at least 13 deaths and 98 injuries, halting operations on a key rail line connecting the Pacific Ocean with the Gulf of Mexico. The Interoceanic Train, linking the states of Oaxaca and Veracruz, derailed on Sunday near the town of Nizanda while navigating a curve.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the casualties, stating that 98 individuals were injured, five of them seriously. She has directed the Secretary of the Navy and the Undersecretary of Human Rights of the Ministry of the Interior to travel to the site and assist the affected families.

Oaxaca Governor Salomon Jara reported that multiple government agencies have responded to the scene to aid the injured. The train was carrying 241 passengers and nine crew members at the time of the accident.

Inaugurated in 2023 under then-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the Interoceanic Train is part of a broader initiative to enhance infrastructure along the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, aiming to establish a strategic corridor for international trade between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.