At least thirteen people lose their lives and 98 wounded in train derailment in the nation of Mexico.
A deadly railway accident in the Mexican state of Oaxaca has claimed the lives of at least 13 people, an incident likely to revive opposition criticisms regarding the pace and handling of the country's key public works projects.
The disaster happened on the Interoceanic Train, a line developed to link the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean across the narrowest part of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. This project was designed to establish an different freight railway path to the Panama Canal, aimed at driving commercial progress in the area.
“We will meticulously determine the cause of this accident,” stated the national leader.
The president reported that, of the around 250 passengers on board, another 98 were wounded, with five of those in grave condition. The official added plans to visit Oaxaca to meet those affected.
Key Undertaking of Former Government
The Interoceanic Train was a central public works project of the previous administration, whose time in office concluded the previous year. This rail line was a hallmark of his administration's economic vision for the southeastern region.
Another ambitious railway undertaking from that time, a passenger and freight circuit around the Yucatán Peninsula, was also part of the wider plan to revitalize the economic fortunes of a relatively less developed part of the country.
Building Management and Worries
The development of both train projects was supervised by the armed forces, marking a dramatic increase of its responsibilities in public works. They were completed at an accelerated rate, beating forecasts to be at least partly launched before the end of that administration.
However, this accelerated timeline had concurrently raised ongoing apprehensions over construction quality.
- Sunday's crash was the third such incident on the Interoceanic Train within the past twelve months.
- This involves an previous collision this month when a train struck a truck at a level crossing.
- The other major rail project has also seen a couple of non-deadly derailments.
Calls for Investigation and Halt
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the chief of a primary political opposition demanded an urgent pause in the construction and operation of all similar projects.
This stoppage was proposed while awaiting a comprehensive safety audit. The party emphasized that the situation "calls for immediate answers."
In reaction, the head of state asserted that the train had been operating in total compliance with all operational standards. Commitments were given that the government would be "diligent" in both the construction and running of these strategic undertakings.
