Passenger train derails, engine and several coaches overturn; 13 killed and 98 injured

Mexico (The Uttam Hindu): A passenger train derailed in Mexico’s southern state of Oaxaca after losing control on a sharp curve. The engine and several coaches overturned in the accident, killing 13 passengers and injuring 98 others.

The train was operating on a newly developed rail corridor that connects the Pacific coast with the Gulf of Mexico. The corridor is monitored and operated by the Mexican Navy. According to naval officials, around 250 passengers were on board at the time of the accident, including nine railway staff members.

The derailment occurred on a curved stretch between Chivela and Nizanda. Out of the injured, 36 passengers with serious injuries were admitted to nearby hospitals. President Claudia Sheinbaum informed via social media that the condition of five injured passengers remains critical. She directed senior officials to reach the site and ensure all possible assistance to the families of those who lost their lives.

Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara said that multiple government agencies immediately launched rescue and relief operations after the accident. Meanwhile, Attorney General Ernestina Godoy Ramos confirmed that a detailed investigation into the cause of the derailment has begun. The train operates on a nearly 290-kilometre route from the Salina Cruz port to the Atlantic coast and is considered a key national transport project.