At least 13 people have died and 98 others were injured after an Interoceanic passenger train derailed in southern Mexico on 28 December 2025, authorities confirmed. The accident occurred in Asunción Ixtaltepec near Nizanda in Oaxaca state, along a vital railway line linking the Pacific and Gulf coasts.
The Interoceanic Train, part of Mexico’s strategic Interoceanic Corridor project, was carrying 241 passengers and nine crew members when it left the tracks while negotiating a curve. The line was inaugurated in 2023 under former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to modernize rail connections across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and boost economic activity.
According to the Mexican Navy’s statement, 139 people on board were reported to be out of danger, while the rest sustained injuries of varying severity. Among the injured, 36 are receiving hospital treatment and at least five are in serious condition, officials said.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum posted on social media that she had dispatched senior officials, including navy and interior ministry representatives, to the derailment site to coordinate emergency response efforts and support the victims’ families. Salomón Jara Cruz, Governor of Oaxaca, also expressed condolences and said local and federal authorities are collaborating on the response and recovery operation.
Rescue operations involved naval personnel, civil protection teams, medical units, and air ambulances, as crews worked to evacuate injured passengers and assess the scene. Some survivors described chaotic conditions as emergency workers struggled to reach the remote location.
Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office has launched a formal investigation to determine the cause of the derailment, which remains unclear. Officials have not yet confirmed whether the accident was caused by technical failure, track conditions, human error, or other factors.
The tragedy has temporarily disrupted services along the crucial rail corridor, a key component of Mexico’s plans to enhance infrastructure, facilitate freight movement, and foster regional trade rivaling established routes like the Panama Canal.
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