In a tragic incident in southern Mexico, a train derailment resulted in the loss of at least 13 lives and left numerous individuals injured, bringing a halt to operations on a crucial rail link between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

The derailment occurred on the Interoceanic Train, which serves the regions of Oaxaca and Veracruz. The train veered off its tracks on Sunday while navigating a curve near Nizanda.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum shared on X that, according to the Mexican Navy, the accident claimed 13 lives. Additionally, 98 people sustained injuries, with five in critical condition.

President Sheinbaum has directed the secretary of the navy and the undersecretary of human rights from the Ministry of the Interior to visit the accident site to offer direct support to affected families.

Oaxaca state Governor Salomon Jara also took to X on Sunday, noting that multiple government agencies had promptly responded to the scene to aid those injured in the accident.

Officials said that 241 passengers and nine crew members were on the train when the accident occurred.

The Interoceanic Train was inaugurated in 2023 by then President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The rail service is part of a broader push to boost train travel in southern Mexico, and develop infrastructure along the isthmus of Tehuantepec, a narrow stretch of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

The Mexican government plans to turn the isthmus into a strategic corridor for international trade, with ports and rail lines that can connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Interoceanic train currently runs from the port of Salina Cruz on the Pacific Ocean to Coatzacoalcos, covering a distance of approximately 180 miles.