A passenger train derailed in Oaxaca, Mexico, on Sunday, killing 13 people and injuring 98 others in one of the country’s deadliest rail accidents in recent years.
The Interoceanic Train went off the rails near Nizanda as it passed through a curve, carrying 241 passengers and nine crew members. The train fell down a seven-meter embankment in the Asuncion Ixtaltepec area, approximately five kilometers south of Nizanda.
Of the 98 injured, 36 remained hospitalized while five were reported in serious or critical condition. Officials said 139 people were out of danger following the derailment on Line Z of the rail service.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum directed the secretary of the navy and other senior personnel to travel to the area and assist the families of those affected. The Ministry of Interior coordinated the response to the incident.
Oaxaca Governor Salomon Jara Cruz expressed his government’s condolences in a statement posted on social media. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this unfortunate accident,” he said.
Emergency units had difficulty accessing the derailment site, complicating rescue efforts. The Mexican Navy deployed 360 naval elements to assist with search and rescue operations.
Injured passengers were transported to three medical facilities across the region. The General Hospital of Ciudad Ixtepec received 11 patients, while the General Hospital of Juchitan treated 22 patients. The IMSS Hospital Matias Romero received 29 patients.
Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office opened an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Authorities have not released preliminary findings about what caused the train to derail on the curve.
The Interoceanic Train operates along a 180-mile route connecting Salina Cruz on the Pacific coast with Coatzacoalcos on the Gulf of Mexico. The rail line traverses the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a strategic land bridge in southern Mexico.
The train route connects the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, serving as both a passenger service and freight corridor. The Mexican government has sought to develop the Isthmus into a strategic trade corridor, expanding ports, railways, and industrial infrastructure with the goal of creating a route that could compete with the Panama Canal.
Former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador inaugurated the train line in 2023 as a major infrastructure project aimed at developing southeast Mexico. The initiative was designed to modernize the rail link across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
The derailment marks the second incident on the Interoceanic Train route in recent weeks. On December 20, a train on the same line collided with a cargo truck attempting to cross the tracks, though that incident did not result in any deaths.
The Mexican Navy oversees the railway line and coordinated the emergency response. Naval personnel deployed five ground ambulances, an air ambulance, and approximately 40 health personnel to the scene.
Sheinbaum said in a statement posted on social media that senior officials would assist families affected by the tragedy.
The train had departed from Salina Cruz and was heading toward Coatzacoalcos when the derailment occurred. Images from the scene showed one carriage on its side while another was completely separated from the train tracks.
The Interoceanic Train project represents a significant component of Mexico’s broader infrastructure development strategy in the southern states. The rail service aims to provide both passenger transportation and freight capabilities across the narrow stretch of land between Mexico’s two coasts.
The 250 people aboard the train at the time of the derailment included tourists, local residents, and crew members operating the service. The train was traveling along one of the route’s curves when it left the tracks and plunged down the embankment.
Mexican authorities continued to provide updates as confirmed information became available. Patient mobilization protocols remained active as medical facilities coordinated care for the injured.
The investigation into the December 28, 2025 derailment remained ongoing as officials worked to determine what caused the train to leave the tracks. Authorities have not released a timeline for when findings from the investigation might be made public.
The accident has raised questions about rail safety along the newly inaugurated line, which was launched just two years ago as part of the previous administration’s signature infrastructure initiatives. The route serves communities across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region.
Emergency response teams worked through the night to ensure all passengers received medical attention. The Navy said it would continue collaborating with authorities to clarify the events surrounding the derailment.
