Mexican officials announced on Sunday that a tragic incident occurred in the southern state of Oaxaca, where a derailment of the Interoceanic Train resulted in the loss of at least 13 lives. The train, carrying a total of 250 individuals, including nine crew members and 241 passengers, went off-track near Nizanda.
Among the passengers, 139 were reported to be safe, while 98 sustained injuries, with 36 currently receiving medical attention. President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that five of the injured were in critical condition and disclosed that government officials were deployed to provide support to the families of the deceased.
Governor Salomon Jara Cruz of Oaxaca extended his sympathies to the affected families and stated that state authorities were collaborating with federal agencies to offer assistance. Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office, as revealed by Attorney General Ernestina Godoy Ramos in a social media update, has initiated an investigation into the incident.
The Interoceanic Train, initiated in 2023 during the tenure of former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, is part of the broader Interoceanic Corridor project. This strategic endeavor aims to enhance the railway network across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, connecting Salina Cruz on the Pacific coast with Coatzacoalcos on the Gulf Coast.
The Mexican government’s vision for the isthmus is to transform it into a pivotal trade corridor by enhancing ports, railways, and industrial infrastructure, aspiring to establish a competitive route comparable to the Panama Canal. Furthermore, the expansion of passenger and freight rail services in southern Mexico and the promotion of economic growth in the region are integral components of this ambitious development strategy.
