Mexico Interoceanic Train Derailment 2025: 13 Dead and 98 Injured as Strategic Rail Link Fails

13 people are dead and 98 more are injured after a passenger train derailed in southern Mexico on December 29, 2025. The Interoceanic Train, a flagship project connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, went off the tracks near the town of Nizanda in Oaxaca.

Casualties and Rescue Challenges in Mexico Interoceanic Train Derailment

The train was carrying 241 passengers and nine crew members when it failed to navigate a curve. According to the Mexican Navy, one carriage overturned while another completely detached from the rails. A passenger told La Razon that the train seemed to be traveling "very fast" before the crash, raising questions about a potential brake failure.

President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that at leastfive individuals are in serious condition. While the Attorney General’s Office has opened an investigation, rescue efforts have been hampered by the remote and difficult terrain of the region, making it hard for emergency units to access the wreckage.

Safety Concerns for Mexico's Strategic Trade Corridor

Inaugurated in 2023, the Interoceanic line across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec was designed to rival the Panama Canal by creating a high-capacity land bridge. However, today's tragedy isn't the first incident on the route; just over a week ago, another train collided with a truck. Oaxaca Governor Salomon Jara Cruz expressed his condolences as the government faces mounting pressure to address infrastructure safety.