Mon Dec 29 03:54:27 UTC 2025: Summary:
A passenger train on the Interoceanic line in southern Mexico derailed near Nizanda, Oaxaca, resulting in at least 13 deaths and 98 injuries. The train, carrying 250 people, was traveling from Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, to Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident, with some reports suggesting excessive speed may have been a factor. Rescue efforts were hampered by difficult access to the site. High-ranking officials, including the Secretary of the Navy, have been dispatched to assist. The Interoceanic train line, a key infrastructure project inaugurated in 2023 to connect the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, had a previous incident in December when a train collided with a truck.
News Article:
Deadly Train Derailment Kills 13, Injures Dozens in Southern Mexico
NIZANDA, OAXACA, MEXICO – A passenger train operating on the Interoceanic line derailed Sunday near the town of Nizanda in Oaxaca, Mexico, claiming the lives of at least 13 people and injuring 98, according to Mexican Navy officials.
The train, carrying 241 passengers and 9 crew members, was traveling from Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, towards Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, when it went off the rails while navigating a curve.
“Unfortunately, 13 people lost their lives,” the Navy confirmed in a statement. While 139 of those aboard were reported to be safe, 36 of the 98 injured are still receiving medical attention, with at least five reported to be in serious condition, according to President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Sheinbaum has directed the Secretary of the Navy and other senior personnel to the scene to assist the victims’ families and coordinate the emergency response, with the Ministry of Interior also involved.
Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office has launched a full investigation to determine the cause of the derailment. Initial reports suggest that the train may have been traveling at an excessive speed prior to the accident. “We don’t know if it lost its brakes,” a passenger told La Razon newspaper.
Emergency crews faced difficulties reaching the site due to challenging terrain. Images circulating online showed carriages overturned and separated from the tracks. Video clips also depicted passengers trapped inside the wreckage.
Governor of Oaxaca, Salomon Jara Cruz, expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased.
The Interoceanic train line, inaugurated in 2023 as a major infrastructure initiative to connect the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, is part of a larger effort to develop the Isthmus of Tehuantepec into a strategic trade corridor. This is not the first incident on the line; in December, a train collided with a cargo truck, though no fatalities occurred in that accident.
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