A passenger service on Mexico’s Interoceanic Train line derailed in the country’s south on Sunday, killing at least 13 people and injuring dozens, according to federal and state officials. The crash occurred as the train rounded a curve near the town of Nizanda, in the state of Oaxaca, and it halted traffic along a rail line intended to connect the Pacific Ocean with the Gulf of Mexico.
Authorities said the Interoceanic service links the states of Oaxaca and Veracruz, and the derailment immediately disrupted movement on a route that has been promoted as both a passenger option and a strategic logistics corridor. Rescue workers were sent to the scene and injured passengers were transported for treatment, while officials began accounting for those on board and securing the area around the tracks.
Mexico has not released an official cause. In the early phase of a rail investigation, authorities typically review track geometry and maintenance records, the train’s speed through the curve, and technical data from onboard systems, alongside interviews with crew members and first responders.
Casualties and Government Response
President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the toll in a post on X, saying the Mexican Navy reported 13 fatalities. She said 98 people were injured and that five were in serious condition. Sheinbaum added that she instructed senior officials to travel to the site to support families, including the secretary of the navy and the undersecretary of human rights at the Ministry of the Interior.
At the state level, Oaxaca Gov. Salomón Jara said multiple government agencies had reached the area to assist the injured and coordinate emergency actions. His statement indicated a multi-agency response that included medical support and incident management, while authorities worked to keep access routes open for ambulances and recovery equipment.
Reuters reported that federal authorities opened an investigation and that Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office was involved, as officials sought to determine how the derailment occurred and whether technical failures or operational decisions contributed.
Passenger Count and Medical Updates
Officials said the train carried 241 passengers and nine crew members at the time of the derailment. While the official injury count remained 98, Reuters provided additional detail on the evolving medical picture: 139 people were reported to be out of danger, 36 injured passengers were receiving medical care, and five remained in critical condition.
Beyond immediate medical response, derailments require extensive site work before service can resume. Damaged railcars must be stabilized and removed, track beds and fastenings inspected, and any compromised infrastructure repaired. On routes that traverse bridges and drainage works, engineers typically conduct structural assessments and test runs before reopening to passengers. As of the initial official statements, no timeline had been announced for restoring the line to regular operations.
Trade Corridor Ambitions and Safety Scrutiny
The Interoceanic passenger service was inaugurated in 2023 under then president Andrés Manuel López Obrador as part of a broader push to expand rail travel in southern Mexico and develop infrastructure along the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a narrow strip between the two coasts. The train currently runs from Salina Cruz on the Pacific to Coatzacoalcos on the Gulf, a distance of about 180 miles (290 kilometers), according to officials.
Mexican officials have portrayed the project as a strategic corridor for domestic development and international trade, pairing port upgrades with rail connections to move cargo across the country more quickly than maritime routes around Central America. Reuters has described the initiative as an attempt to build a trade route that could rival the Panama Canal for certain shipments, while also directing investment toward the south.
With service suspended and casualties confirmed, the derailment is likely to sharpen attention on operational safeguards, maintenance standards, and emergency preparedness for a high-profile line. Investigators are expected to evaluate whether the curve near Nizanda, track conditions, or equipment performance played a role, and whether additional controls are needed as Mexico expands passenger and freight activity along the corridor.
