At least 13 individuals lose their lives and 98 hurt in train crash in Mexico.

A tragic train derailment in the southern state of Oaxaca has resulted in the deaths of at least 13 people, an incident expected to reignite censure from critics regarding the speed and management of the country's major public works projects.

The accident happened on the Interoceanic Train, a line built to link the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific across the slenderest section of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. This initiative was created to provide an competing rail corridor to the Panama Canal, with the goal of spurring economic development in the area.

“We are going to rigorously clarify the cause of this accident,” affirmed the country's president.

The president announced that, of the around 250 people on board, another 98 were wounded, with five of those in serious condition. The president noted plans to go to Oaxaca to meet those involved.

Key Undertaking of Previous Administration

The Interoceanic Train was a central development scheme of the previous administration, whose time in office ended the year before. This rail line was a hallmark of his leadership's economic vision for the southern region.

Another multi-billion dollar train initiative from that era, a passenger and freight circuit around the Yucatán Peninsula, was also part of the comprehensive effort to revitalize the economy of a relatively poorer part of the country.

Project Execution and Risks Apprehensions

The construction of both rail lines was supervised by the army, marking a notable increase of its role in public infrastructure. They were completed at an accelerated pace, beating expectations to be partially launched before the end of that presidency.

However, this fast-paced schedule had concurrently sparked significant apprehensions over operational security.

• Sunday's crash was the third such incident on the Interoceanic Train within the past twelve months.
• This involves an prior crash this month when a train hit a truck at a railroad crossing.
• The other major rail project has also seen two non-deadly derailments.

Demands for Audit and Pause

In the aftermath of the disaster, the leader of a primary political opposition urged an urgent halt in the construction and operation of all similar projects.

This pause was suggested until the completion of a thorough technical review. The party stated that the situation "demands swift accountability."

In reply, the national leader asserted that the train had been running in complete accordance with all security protocols. Assurances were given that the government would continue to be "diligent" in both the construction and management of these national projects.