No fewer than 13 people lose their lives and ninety-eight wounded in rail accident in Mexico.

A tragic train derailment in the southern state of Oaxaca has claimed the lives of at least 13 people, an incident likely to revive opposition criticisms regarding the speed and management of the country's flagship government projects.

The disaster happened on the Interoceanic Corridor train, a route developed to join the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean across the slenderest section of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. This endeavor was intended to offer an competing rail corridor to the Panama Canal, with the goal of spurring economic development in the area.

“We will thoroughly investigate what caused this accident,” stated the country's president.

The leader reported that, of the some 250 people on board, another 98 were hurt, with five of those in serious condition. The president added plans to visit Oaxaca to confer with those impacted.

Major Initiative of Former Government

The Interoceanic Train was a cornerstone development scheme of the immediate past president, whose presidency finished the prior year. This rail line was intimately linked to his administration's strategic vision for the southern region.

Another massive train initiative from that era, a passenger and freight circuit around the Yucatán Peninsula, was also central to the comprehensive effort to stimulate the economy of a relatively disadvantaged part of the country.

Building Management and Safety Concerns

The building of both railway systems was supervised by the army, marking a dramatic expansion of its duties in national works. They were executed at an rapid rate, surpassing predictions to be at least partly launched before the end of that administration.

However, this rushed timetable had concurrently sparked ongoing apprehensions over safety standards.

• Sunday's crash was the third event on the Interoceanic Train this year.
• This includes an earlier crash this month when a train smashed into a truck at a railroad crossing.
• The other major rail project has also experienced two non-deadly derailments.

Calls for Audit and Pause

In the aftermath of the disaster, the leader of a key rival party demanded an prompt suspension in the development and management of all such projects.

This stoppage was requested until the completion of a thorough safety audit. The party emphasized that the situation "calls for prompt explanations."

In reaction, the president asserted that the train had been running in total accordance with all safety requirements. Commitments were given that the government would remain "accountable" in both the construction and running of these vital projects.