At a Glance
- 13 people died and 98 injured in a derailment on the Interoceanic Train.
- The accident occurred near Nizanda, Oaxaca, halting the 180-mile Pacific-Gulf rail line.
- President Claudia Sheinbaum called for immediate aid and sent officials to the site.
- Why it matters: The crash threatens Mexico’s ambitious rail corridor linking the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
A catastrophic derailment on Mexico’s Interoceanic Train has claimed 13 lives and left 98 injured, sending shockwaves through the nation’s transport network. The incident occurred Sunday near the town of Nizanda, disrupting the 180-mile route that connects the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico.
Accident Details
Officials say the train, carrying 241 passengers and 9 crew members, went off the rails as it passed a curve near Nizanda. The derailment halted traffic along the critical rail line.
President Claudia Sheinbaum posted on X that 13 people died and 98 were injured, five of them seriously.
President Claudia Sheinbaum stated:
> “The Mexican Navy has informed me that, tragically, 13 people died in the Interoceanic Train accident, and 98 people are injured, five of them seriously.”
Oaxaca Governor Salomon Jara said:
> “Several government agencies have reached the site of the accident to assist the injured.”
Interoceanic Train Context
The Interoceanic Train, inaugurated in 2023 by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, runs from Salina Cruz on the Pacific to Coatzacoalcos on the Gulf, covering approximately 180 miles (290 kilometers).
| Start | End | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Salina Cruz | Coatzacoalcos | 180 miles (290 km) |
Mexico plans to turn the Tehuantepec isthmus into a strategic trade corridor, linking Atlantic and Pacific ports via rail.
Key Takeaways
- 13 dead, 98 injured in Interoceanic Train derailment.
- President Sheinbaum and state officials are actively responding.
- The train connects Pacific and Gulf, vital to Mexico’s trade corridor plans.
The derailment underscores the risks facing Mexico’s expanding rail network as the country pushes toward a new intercontinental corridor.
