At least 13 people are dead and almost 100 are injured after a train derailed in Mexico.
The horror unfolded on Sunday when an Interoceanic Train carrying nearly 250 partially came off the tracks in southern Oaxaca state.
The Mexican Navy, which operates the railway line, said the train, which derailed near the town of Nizanda, had 241 passengers on board and nine crew members.
Of those on board, 193 were reported to be safe and well, while another 98 were said to be injured, including 36 people who were receiving medical assistance.
In a statement, the Mexican Navy said: ‘As a result of this accident, 139 people are out of danger, 98 were injured… and unfortunately, 13 people lost their lives.’
According to a post on X by President Claudia Sheinbaum, five of those who were injured were in critical condition.
She added that senior officials had been dispatched to the site to help the families of those who had lost loved ones.
The Interoceanic train forms part of a broader Interoceanic Corridor project.
A passenger is helped off of the train, which partially derailed on a journey in Mexico on Sunday
Mexican Army soldiers and Civil Protection members rescue passengers from the carriage
Two passengers who got off of the train embrace after being rescued by soldier
The Interoceanic train derailed in the Asuncion Ixtaltepec area on the route to Oaxaca
A passenger is carried away from the train on a stretcher by members of the Civil Protection
Passengers, soldiers and Civil Protection members stand outside of the partially derailed train
The initiative, launched in 2023 under former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, was designed to modernise the rail link across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
The area connects the Pacific port of Salina Cruz with Coatzacoalcos, which lies on the Gulf Coast.
It was hoped the link would act as a trade corridor, and would go towards efforts to expand ports, railways and industrial infrastructure, with an end goal of creating a route which could rival the Panama Canal.
The service is also part of a wider push to expand passengers and freight rail in southern Mexico, in a bid to boost economic development in the region.
Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office has opened an investigation into the incident.
Taking to X, Attorney General Ernestina Godoy Ramos wrote: ‘Following the events that occurred on the Interoceanic Corridor, the @FGRMexico has opened an investigation to determine the causes of what happened.
‘Federal agents from the Oaxaca Attorney General’s Office, as well as forensic and police personnel from the #AIC, are coordinating with federal and state authorities to carry out the respective investigations.
‘We will continue to provide updates.’
