Mexico: 13 Dead, Nearly 100 Injured After Interoceanic Train Derails in Oaxaca

At least 13 people lost their lives and dozens were injured after an Interoceanic Train derailed in Mexico's southern state of Oaxaca on Sunday, triggering a large-scale emergency response and an official investigation into the cause of the accident.

Authorities said the train went off the tracks near the town of Nizanda while carrying hundreds of passengers, raising fresh questions about safety along one of the country's flagship infrastructure projects.

Casualties and condition of passengers

According to the Mexican Navy, the Interoceanic Train was transporting 250 people at the time of the derailment, including nine crew members and 241 passengers. Officials confirmed that 193 people were reported to be out of danger.

A total of 98 passengers sustained injuries, with 36 requiring medical assistance. In a post on X, President Claudia Sheinbaum said that five of the injured were in critical condition and assured that senior officials had been sent to the site to support rescue efforts and assist the families of the victims.

Investigation ordered into derailment

Mexico's Attorney General's Office has opened an investigation into the incident. Attorney General Ernestina Godoy Ramos said in a social media post that authorities would examine the circumstances surrounding the derailment and determine responsibility.

Emergency teams remained at the scene near Nizanda to provide medical aid, assess damage and secure the area as investigators began their work.

Interoceanic Train and corridor project

The Interoceanic Train was inaugurated in 2023 under former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and is a key component of the Interoceanic Corridor project.

The initiative aims to modernise rail connectivity across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, linking the Pacific port of Salina Cruz with Coatzacoalcos on the Gulf Coast. The Mexican government has promoted the corridor as a strategic trade route, expanding ports, railways and industrial infrastructure with the ambition of creating an alternative to the Panama Canal.

Push for rail expansion in southern Mexico

Beyond freight and trade, the Interoceanic Train service is part of a broader effort to revive passenger and cargo rail in southern Mexico. The project is intended to stimulate economic development in historically underdeveloped regions by improving connectivity, attracting investment and creating jobs.

Sunday's deadly derailment, however, is likely to intensify scrutiny of safety standards and operational readiness as the government continues to roll out large-scale transport infrastructure projects.