A passenger train crashed on the Interoceanic Corridor of Tehuantepec Railway on the Salina Cruz-Coatzacoalcos route in Mexico on Sunday, killing at least 13 people and injuring 98 others, the Mexican Navy Secretariat said.
The train, operating on Line Z, was carrying about 250 passengers at the time of the accident, according to a statement issued by the Mexican Navy, which oversees the interoceanic corridor across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
Of the 98 injured, 36 are being treated in hospital, while the remaining passengers have suffered minor injuries. A total of 139 passengers are said to be out of danger.
“As a result of this accident, 139 people are out of danger, 98 people are injured, 36 of whom are being treated in hospital and the rest are not seriously injured, and unfortunately, 13 people have lost their lives,” the statement said.
In its statement, the Navy expressed its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident. Also, the Navy reiterated its commitment to provide immediate assistance to the affected people responsibly, transparently and in full compliance with the law.
The statement further said, “The Naval Secretariat expresses its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident, and also reaffirms its commitment to act with full accountability, transparency and adherence to law, and to provide immediate assistance to those affected.”
The Navy said a massive search and rescue operation was launched after the accident, with 360 naval personnel, 20 vehicles, four ground ambulances, three air ambulances and a tactical drone deployed to assist in the emergency response.
Officials said they will continue to work in coordination with relevant agencies to ascertain the cause of the accident and ensure assistance to the victims and their families.
Following the accident, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo instructed the Secretary of the Navy and the Deputy Secretary for Human Rights of the Secretariat of Internal Affairs to go to the crash site and personally assist the affected families.
He also informed that the injured passengers are being treated at the IMSS hospitals located in Matias Romero and Salina Cruz, as well as the IMSS-Wellbeing hospitals located in Juchitán and Ixtepec, and directed the representatives present there to assist in relief and medical efforts.
“The Naval Secretariat has informed me that unfortunately 13 people have died in the transoceanic rail accident; 98 people are injured, five of them seriously. The injured are being treated at the IMSS hospitals at Matias Romero and Salina Cruz, as well as the IMSS-Wellbeing hospitals at Juchitán and Ixtepec,” the President said in a post on Twitter.
He said, “I have directed the Secretary of the Navy and the Deputy Secretary for Human Rights of the Home Ministry to visit the site and personally meet the families of the deceased; as well as representatives of IMSS and IMSS-Wellbeing. The Secretary of the Home Ministry will coordinate efforts. I appreciate the cooperation of the Governor of Oaxaca and his team. We will continue to provide updates.”