Credited from: REUTERS
Mexico's authorities have reported that at least 13 people were killed when an Interoceanic Train derailed in the southern state of Oaxaca. This tragic event transpired near the town of Nizanda, involving a train that was carrying 241 passengers and nine crew members at the time. The train went off the tracks as it navigated a curve, leading to significant chaos on board, with emergency units attempting to assist those injured, according to Reuters and India Times.
As of the latest updates, officials confirmed that 98 individuals sustained injuries during the derailment, of which about 36 required medical assistance. President Claudia Sheinbaum mentioned on social media that five of these patients are in serious condition and that senior officials, including the Secretary of the Navy, have been dispatched to assist those affected, as per reports by Channel News Asia, BBC, and South China Morning Post.
Emergency services have faced challenges reaching the site, further complicating rescue efforts. The Mexican Navy reported that a total of 139 individuals on board were confirmed out of danger, while authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the derailment, as stated by the Attorney General's Office, echoed in Al Jazeera and CBS News.
The Interoceanic Train, inaugurated in 2023, is part of an initiative to enhance transport infrastructure across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, aimed at bolstering economic development by linking the Pacific and Gulf coasts, a strategy promoted by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, as detailed by Reuters, India Times, and Channel News Asia.