At least 13 passengers perish and 98 injured in train crash in Mexico.

A fatal train crash in the southern state of Oaxaca has claimed the lives of at least 13 people, an incident expected to reignite opposition criticisms regarding the speed and handling of the country's major public works projects.

The disaster happened on the Interoceanic Corridor train, a rail link built to join the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean across the slenderest section of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. This endeavor was created to offer an different freight railway path to the Panama Canal, aimed at driving regional growth in the area.

“We are going to thoroughly investigate the reasons behind this incident,” stated the national leader.

The leader reported that, of the around 250 passengers on board, another 98 were injured, with five of those in grave condition. The president noted plans to travel to Oaxaca to meet those involved.

Flagship Project of Past Leadership

The Interoceanic Train was a central public works project of the previous administration, whose presidency ended the year before. This rail line was a hallmark of his leadership's developmental agenda for the southeastern region.

Another multi-billion dollar train initiative from that time, a passenger and freight circuit around the Yucatán Peninsula, was also central to the comprehensive effort to kickstart the economic fortunes of a historically disadvantaged part of the country.

Project Execution and Risks Apprehensions

The building of both train projects was supervised by the armed forces, marking a dramatic increase of its role in national projects. They were executed at an fast-tracked speed, beating expectations to be at least partly launched before the end of that government.

However, this rushed timetable had also fueled significant questions over operational security.

• Sunday's accident was the third event on the Interoceanic Train in the current year.
• This includes an earlier 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.

Appeals for Audit and Pause

In the aftermath of the catastrophe, the leader of a major opposition party called for an immediate pause in the development and management of all similar projects.

This stoppage was requested pending a comprehensive independent investigation. The party declared that the tragedy "demands swift accountability."

In reaction, the president asserted that the train had been functioning in total compliance with all operational standards. Commitments were given that the government would continue to be "responsible" in both the construction and operation of these strategic undertakings.