At least 13 people died and almost 100 were injured after a train derailed in Mexico's south-western Oaxaca region, according to the Mexican navy.
The train, which was travelling between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, was carrying 241 passengers and nine crew members. A total of 98 were injured, with 36 currently hospitalized, the navy confirmed.
The derailment occurred as the train rounded a bend near the town of Nizanda. Mexico's Attorney General has announced that an investigation into the accident is underway.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reported that five individuals among the injured are in serious condition. High-ranking officials, including the Secretary of the Navy, are en route to the crash site to assess the situation.
Images from the site depict rescue workers assisting passengers as the train tilted over the side of a cliff. The Interoceanic train, which connects Salina Cruz on the Pacific with Coatzacoalcos on the Gulf Coast, consists of two locomotives and four passenger cars. The railway network is operated by Mexico's navy.
Governor of Oaxaca Salomón Jara Cruz expressed his "deep regret" concerning the incident, noting that state authorities are collaborating with federal agencies to assist those affected. The Interoceanic rail link, inaugurated two years ago under former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, was envisioned to drive economic growth in the region by modernizing rail connectivity across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
This railway initiative aims to amplify both passenger and freight transport in southern Mexico, fostering further economic development in the region.
