A catastrophic derailment of Mexico’s Interoceanic passenger train has resulted in significant casualties, with 13 fatalities and nearly 100 injured individuals, according to the Mexican Navy. The incident occurred near Nizanda in Oaxaca’s southeastern region as the train navigated a curve, causing multiple carriages to leave the tracks and partially dangle over a cliff edge.
The train, operational under naval administration, was transporting 241 passengers and 9 crew members along the strategic Coatzacoalcos-Salina Cruz corridor connecting the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean. Rescue operations unfolded with dramatic intensity as emergency workers assisted survivors from precariously positioned carriages while medical teams transported the wounded on stretchers.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed five critically injured patients among the 36 requiring hospitalization. The federal government has deployed high-level officials including the Secretary of the Navy to coordinate response efforts. Mexico’s Attorney General has initiated a formal investigation into the causes of the derailment.
This rail service represents a cornerstone of Mexico’s infrastructure modernization program, inaugurated two years ago under former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The Interoceanic Railway was designed to transform the Isthmus of Tehuantepec into a vital trade corridor through port expansions and industrial development, serving both freight and passenger transportation needs.
Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara Cruz expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy while emphasizing coordinated state-federal assistance for victims and their families. The accident raises serious questions about safety protocols along this strategically important but geographically challenging route through mountainous terrain.