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Tragedy Strikes Southern Mexico: Train Derailment Kills 13, Injures Dozens on Interoceanic Line
MEXICO CITY – A devastating train accident in southern Mexico has claimed the lives of at least 13 individuals and left dozens more injured, bringing traffic to a standstill along a crucial rail line connecting the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
The Interoceanic Train, which links the states of Oaxaca and Veracruz, derailed on Sunday while navigating a curve near the town of Nizanda. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the tragic toll, stating on X, “The Mexican Navy has informed me that, tragically, 13 people died in the Interoceanic Train accident,” also noting that 98 people sustained injuries, with five in serious condition.
President Sheinbaum has directed the secretary of the navy and the undersecretary of the interior for human rights to personally visit the site and provide assistance to the affected families. Oaxaca state Governor Salomon Jara also confirmed on X that multiple government agencies had responded to the scene to aid the injured.
Authorities reported that 241 passengers and nine crew members were on board the train at the time of the incident.
The Interoceanic Train, inaugurated in 2023 by then-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, is a key component of a larger initiative to enhance train travel and develop infrastructure across the Tehuantepec isthmus. This narrow stretch of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico is envisioned by the Mexican government as a strategic international trade corridor, featuring ports and rail lines designed to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Interoceanic train spans approximately 180 miles, connecting the port of Salina Cruz on the Pacific Ocean to Coatzacoalcos.