At least 13 people lose their lives and 98 wounded in rail accident in Mexico.

A deadly train crash 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 handling of the country's major infrastructure initiatives.

The accident took place on the Interoceanic Corridor train, a line constructed to link the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean across the narrowest part of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. This initiative was intended to offer an competing rail corridor to the Panama Canal, aimed at driving commercial progress in the area.

“We are going to thoroughly investigate the reasons behind this tragedy,” affirmed the country's president.

The official reported that, of the some 250 passengers on board, another 98 were injured, with five of those in serious condition. The leader stated plans to travel to Oaxaca to meet those affected.

Major Initiative of Past Leadership

The Interoceanic Train was a cornerstone public works project of the immediate past president, whose term concluded the prior year. This project was intimately linked to his government's strategic agenda for the southeastern region.

Another massive railway undertaking from that period, a passenger and freight circuit around the Yucatán Peninsula, was also part of the wider plan to revitalize the economic fortunes of a comparatively poorer part of the country.

Building Management and Safety Concerns

The development of both train projects was supervised by the armed forces, marking a significant growth of its responsibilities in public works. They were completed at an rapid speed, surpassing expectations to be partially launched before the end of that government.

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

• Sunday's crash was the third event on the Interoceanic Train in the current year.
• This includes an previous collision this month when a train hit a truck at a crossing.
• The other major rail project has also experienced a couple of non-fatal derailments.

Calls for Investigation and Halt

In the aftermath of the disaster, the leader of a primary political opposition demanded an immediate suspension in the building and running of all such projects.

This pause was proposed pending a comprehensive technical review. The party declared that the situation "demands prompt explanations."

In response, the head of state insisted that the train had been running in complete adherence to all operational standards. Assurances were given that the government would remain "diligent" in both the construction and running of these strategic undertakings.