At least 13 killed as passenger train derails in southern Mexico

A deadly train derailment in southern Mexico has left at least 13 people dead and dozens more injured, after a passenger service came off the tracks in the state of Oaxaca, according to the Mexican navy.

The train was travelling across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, linking the Gulf of Mexico with the Pacific coast, when it derailed near the town of Nizanda. Officials said the incident occurred as the train was negotiating a bend, causing several carriages to leave the tracks and tilt dangerously close to a cliff edge.

Authorities confirmed that 241 passengers and nine crew members were on board at the time of the crash. The navy said 98 people were injured, with 36 requiring hospital treatment. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said five of those hurt were in a serious condition.

Emergency services were dispatched to the scene, where images showed rescue teams assisting passengers as they climbed down from the damaged train. Several carriages appeared to have partially overturned, complicating rescue efforts in the rugged terrain.

Mexico’s Attorney General confirmed that an investigation into the cause of the derailment is under way. Senior federal officials, including the secretary of the navy, were reported to be travelling to the crash site as authorities assessed the scale of the damage and coordinated the response.

The Interoceanic train involved in the accident operates on a strategic rail corridor between the Pacific port of Salina Cruz and Coatzacoalcos on the Gulf Coast. The navy said the service was made up of two locomotives and four passenger cars, and confirmed that the armed forces operate Mexico’s railway network.

Oaxaca governor Salomón Jara Cruz said he felt “deep regret” over the loss of life and confirmed that state authorities were working alongside federal agencies to support victims and their families.

The rail link was inaugurated two years ago as part of a flagship infrastructure programme launched under former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The project aims to revitalise the Isthmus of Tehuantepec by transforming it into a key trade and transport corridor through expanded ports, railways and industrial development.

The passenger service also forms part of a wider effort to grow rail travel and freight capacity in southern Mexico, with the government positioning rail investment as a driver of long-term economic growth in the region.

Image: Especial