Thirteen people were killed and 98 others injured when the Interoceanic Train derailed near Nizanda, Oaxaca, Mexico, on December 28, 2025. The train was carrying 250 people when it derailed as it passed a curve on the route between Oaxaca and Veracruz.
The Mexican Navy reported that nine crew members and 241 passengers were aboard at the time of the accident. Of the 98 injured, five remained in serious or critical condition. Thirty-six of those injured were still receiving medical care, while 139 people were reported to be out of danger.
On January 1, 2026, a 73-year-old woman died from injuries sustained in the derailment, raising the death toll to 14. The victim, identified as Hilda Alcántara, had been receiving specialized medical care, including emergency surgical procedures, before her death, according to the Mexican Navy.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum directed the navy secretary to travel to the area. The Ministry of Interior coordinated the response to the incident. “Emergency units had difficulty accessing the area where the derailment occurred,” officials reported.
The train had departed from Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, and was heading to Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, when the accident occurred near Asuncion Ixtaltepec. The derailment happened approximately five kilometers south of Nizanda. Train cars fell off a steep hill and toppled on their sides.
Among the dead was a 15-year-old. Luisa Serrano Garcia’s family searched for her in the aftermath of the crash before receiving confirmation of her death. Her grandmother had pleaded on social media for help finding her granddaughter. Among those killed was journalist Israel Gallegos Soto, director of Oaxaca Mundo News and collaborator with El Heraldo Radio Oaxaca. Gallegos Soto was traveling with his wife, who survived the crash and was hospitalized. The journalist was initially reported missing before his death was confirmed by the National Union of Media Workers (SINMCO).
Ana Guadalupe Fabre and her 16-year-old son were both injured in the derailment. The passenger reported that the train was traveling fast before the accident.
Oaxaca Governor Salomon Jara Cruz expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. The Attorney General’s Office opened an investigation to determine the cause of the derailment.
The Interoceanic Train line was inaugurated in 2023 by then-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The train runs between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, carrying both passengers and freight. The line was part of a major infrastructure project designed to develop southeast Mexico.
The initiative modernized the rail link across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a land bridge connecting Mexico’s Pacific port of Salina Cruz with Coatzacoalcos on the Gulf Coast. The Mexican government sought to develop the Isthmus into a strategic trade corridor, expanding ports, railways, and industrial infrastructure to create a route that could compete with the Panama Canal.
The Interoceanic Train had experienced another incident on December 20 when a train on the same route collided with a cargo truck attempting to cross the tracks. That collision did not result in any deaths.
The December 28 derailment marked one of the deadliest incidents on Mexico’s recently expanded passenger rail network. Images from the scene showed train carriages separated from the tracks and lying on their sides in dense vegetation. Some passengers remained trapped in the derailed carriages immediately following the accident.
The rugged terrain surrounding the crash site complicated rescue efforts. Emergency responders worked to reach injured passengers and transport them to medical facilities. The remote location in the southern state of Oaxaca presented challenges for emergency services attempting to access the area quickly.
The train line’s rapid construction and development had been part of Lopez Obrador’s broader push to expand infrastructure in southeastern Mexico. The project aimed to improve connectivity in rural areas and create economic opportunities by enhancing freight transportation between Mexico’s two coasts.
Families of victims and survivors gathered in Oaxaca following the crash, seeking information about their loved ones. Many expressed frustration over the limited information available about what caused the derailment and demanded answers from government officials about safety protocols on the line.
The investigation into the Dec. 28 derailment continued as authorities worked to determine whether mechanical failure, track conditions, speed, or other factors contributed to the accident. Officials stated the Attorney General’s Office would conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause and prevent future incidents.
