Mexico’s train accident: 13 dead and 98 injured!
Mexico City, Dec 28 (EFE).-
At least 20 people were injured on Sunday after a train operated by Mexico’s Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT) derailed in the southern state of Oaxaca, authorities said, triggering rescue operations and a federal investigation into the causes of the accident.
The derailment occurred near the Zapotec community of Nizanda, in the municipality of Asunción Ixtaltepec, along the Z Line, which links the Gulf state of Veracruz with the Pacific port of Salina Cruz.
Mexico’s Navy Ministry (Semar) said in a statement that 20 injured passengers were being transferred to local hospitals for medical treatment.
“So far, 20 injured people have been identified and are being taken to local hospitals for timely medical care,” Semar said, adding that five ground ambulances, one air ambulance, and around 40 naval medical personnel were deployed.
Authorities said rescue teams were assisting passengers who fell into a ravine about seven meters (23 feet) deep after the main locomotive derailed.
The train was carrying nine crew members and 241 passengers aboard two locomotives and four passenger cars, according to Semar.
Investigation into causes
Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office (FGR) confirmed that a federal investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the derailment.
Attorney General Ernestina Godoy said agents from the Criminal Investigation Agency (AIC) are working with federal and state authorities to carry out technical and operational inquiries.
Earlier, Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara had reported a preliminary figure of 15 injured passengers, noting they were treated immediately under emergency protocols.
Authorities initially did not confirm whether there were casualties, but later updates raised the number of injured as rescue efforts continued.
Government monitoring strategic project
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on social media that her government was closely monitoring the response to the incident.
“We are attentive to the work being carried out by the Navy Ministry to support users of the Interoceanic Corridor,” Sheinbaum said, adding that the Infrastructure, Communications and Transport Ministry (SICT), the IMSS-Bienestar health system, and the Oaxaca state government were also involved.
Semar later confirmed that the accident involved the derailment of the lead locomotive and said it was coordinating with local authorities to assist passengers and collect technical data.
The Z Line spans 212 kilometers (131.7 miles) and is a key component of the Interoceanic Corridor, a flagship infrastructure project aimed at boosting global trade by connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans through railways, ports, and industrial hubs.
Mexico has promoted the corridor as an alternative to the Panama Canal, seeking to facilitate cargo movement between Asia, the United States East Coast, and Europe through the narrowest stretch of the country.
Authorities said further updates would be provided as investigations progress. EFE
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