A major passenger train derailment in southern Mexico has resulted in a tragic loss of life and numerous injuries, prompting a large-scale emergency response and a formal federal investigation. The incident occurred on Sunday in the state of Oaxaca, casting a shadow over a flagship national infrastructure project.
Details of the Oaxaca Train Disaster
The locomotive of the Interoceanic Train left the tracks near the town of Nizanda in Oaxaca. Officials confirmed the service was carrying 241 passengers and 9 crew members at the time of the derailment. The Mexican Navy, which operates this rail line, provided the casualty figures.
In an initial update, the navy reported injuries. However, the toll was later revised significantly upwards. The final confirmed figures state that 98 people were injured and 13 individuals lost their lives. Among the injured, 36 required hospitalisation, with five reported to be in critical condition. Authorities stated that 139 passengers were out of danger.
Government Response and Investigation Launched
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum swiftly reacted to the crisis. She ordered senior federal officials, including the navy secretary, to travel to the area to oversee rescue operations and assist victims' families. On social media platform X, President Sheinbaum stated that response efforts would be coordinated by Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez Velázquez, with regular updates promised to the public.
Concurrently, the Attorney General's Office has opened a formal investigation to determine the precise cause of the derailment. Attorney General Ernestina Godoy Ramos stated that the inquiry would scrutinise both technical failures and operational factors that may have contributed to the accident. Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara Cruz expressed his condolences and confirmed state authorities are working closely with federal agencies to support those affected.
Context: The Interoceanic Corridor Project
The derailed train was part of the Interoceanic Train service, which runs between Mexico's Pacific and Gulf coasts. This line is a central component of the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a major infrastructure initiative inaugurated in 2023 under former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
The ambitious project aims to modernise rail and port infrastructure across southern Mexico, creating a strategic trade link between the Pacific port of Salina Cruz and Coatzacoalcos on the Gulf Coast. It is envisioned as a competitive alternative to the Panama Canal for certain cargo routes.
Tragically, Sunday's disaster marks the second serious incident on this route in December alone. On 20 December, a train on the same line collided with a cargo truck attempting to cross the tracks, though no fatalities were reported in that earlier accident. The back-to-back incidents are likely to raise serious questions about safety protocols along the crucial new corridor.
