At least 13 people were killed and 98 injured on Sunday when the Interoceanic Train derailed near Nizanda in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Mexican authorities reported that 139 passengers were out of danger, while 36 remain under medical care.
President Claudia Sheinbaum and Governor Salomón Jara Cruz confirmed that officials had been dispatched to assist victims, and Mexico’s Attorney General, Ernestina Godoy Ramos, said her office has opened an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
President Sheinbaum stated on X that five of the injured are in critical condition and confirmed that senior officials had been sent to support the families of those killed.
Governor Jara Cruz expressed condolences and noted that state authorities are coordinating with federal agencies to aid victims.
The Interoceanic Train, inaugurated in 2023 under former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, is part of the broader Interoceanic Corridor project.
The initiative aims to modernize the rail link across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, connecting the Pacific port of Salina Cruz with Coatzacoalcos on the Gulf Coast.
The Mexican government views it as a strategic trade corridor, expanding ports, railways, and industrial infrastructure with the goal of creating a route capable of competing with the Panama Canal.
Officials confirmed that the derailment triggered a rapid response, with state and federal authorities mobilizing emergency services to care for the injured and coordinate support for affected families.
President Sheinbaum emphasized the government’s commitment to providing immediate care and ensuring a thorough investigation.
Governor Jara Cruz reassured the public that safety assessments are underway to prevent further accidents.
The incident highlights the challenges facing Mexico’s efforts to expand and modernize its railway infrastructure, a cornerstone of the Interoceanic Corridor project.
Authorities continue to update the public on the condition of the injured and the progress of the investigation.
As the corridor seeks to boost trade and economic growth across southern Mexico, the derailment serves as a somber reminder of the importance of rigorous safety protocols in large-scale infrastructure projects.
With federal and state agencies actively coordinating relief efforts and the Attorney General’s investigation ongoing, Mexican authorities have pledged transparency and accountability in addressing the causes and consequences of the Nizanda derailment.
