On December 28, 2025, the Interoceanic Train derailed near Nizanda, Oaxaca, Mexico, initially killing 13 people and injuring 98. The death toll rose to 14 on January 1, 2026, following the passing of a 73-year-old woman who had been injured in the crash. The train, which was carrying 250 people, derailed while navigating a curve in the Asuncion Ixtaltepec area.
The Mexican Navy, responsible for overseeing the railway line, reported that the train had nine crew members and 241 passengers aboard at the time of the accident. Among the injured passengers, five remain in a critical state, and 36 are still under medical care. Meanwhile, 139 passengers have been declared safe.
Photos from the accident scene depicted train cars that had toppled off a steep hill into the dense undergrowth below, while others were overturned on their sides. The challenging access to the crash site hampered the rescue operations, as emergency units battled to reach the remote location.
The Mexican Navy deployed 360 naval personnel, supported by 20 vehicles, four ground ambulances, three air ambulances, and a tactical drone to assist in search and rescue operations at the remote accident site.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum instructed the navy secretary to visit the area and provide assistance to the families of the affected.
An investigation has been launched by Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office to ascertain the cause of the accident. The train’s operator, who survived the crash, was brought in for questioning as part of the investigation. “The prosecutor’s office has already interviewed the operator and several other people,” President Sheinbaum stated during a press conference on Dec. 30. She cautioned against speculating on the train’s speed before the completion of the investigation.
The ill-fated train had left Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, and was en route to Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, when the accident occurred. Among the casualties was a 15-year-old girl, Luisa, whose death was confirmed after her grandmother had issued a plea on social media for help in locating her.
Also onboard was Ana Guadalupe Fabre and her 16-year-old son, who were returning to Veracruz after spending Christmas with relatives. Both sustained injuries in the crash. A passenger who survived the accident raised questions about the speed of the train before it derailed, stating that the train “was coming very fast.”
Oaxaca’s Governor Salomon Jara Cruz expressed his condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the accident and sympathized with those affected by the tragic event.
The Interoceanic Train, inaugurated in 2023 under the leadership of then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, carries both passengers and freight. It was part of a significant infrastructure project aimed at modernizing the railway link across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a land bridge connecting Mexico’s Pacific and Gulf coasts.
The Mexican government’s strategy involved expanding ports, railways, and industrial infrastructure to develop the Isthmus into a strategic trade corridor that could rival the Panama Canal.
This accident isn’t the first to occur on the Interoceanic Train route. On December 20, a train on the same line collided with a cargo truck attempting to cross the tracks. However, no fatalities were reported. The railway line traverses challenging terrain through Mexico’s southern states and was intended to provide an alternative route for goods moving between the two oceans.
President Sheinbaum, López Obrador’s political ally and successor, has continued to support the infrastructure projects initiated under the previous administration. In the wake of the accident, survivors and victims’ families are seeking answers regarding the cause of the derailment, while the government prioritizes care for the injured and support for bereaved families.