Sheinbaum Says Government Will Provide Full Compensation to Families Affected by Train Derailment

Following the tragic train accident that killed 13 people in Oaxaca, Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that the victims' families and those who were injured will receive government assistance.

During a news conference on Dec. 30, Sheinbaum said those affected will receive full compensation for damages, in addition to the initial support announced a day earlier of 30,000 pesos, about $1,700.

As part of the federal government's first actions following the derailment of the Interoceanic Train in Oaxaca, the President Sheinbaum announced the delivery of immediate financial assistance that victims' families can use to cover any expenses they need. The announcement was made upon her arrival in the state, where she also began hospital visits and met with local authorities and medical staff.

Sheinbaum added that the payment is an initial measure, while authorities continue investigating to determine the cause of the derailment.

On Dec. 30, the president said she visited hospitals in Oaxaca where injured passengers are being treated, as well as funeral homes where the victims were being mourned, with the goal of ensuring those affected are properly assisted and of speeding up the process with the Attorney General's Office.

She also said that beyond the initial financial support, the government will provide full compensation in coordination with the train's insurer, as reported by Infobae México.

"Yesterday I also reported that an initial payment of 30,000 pesos was given to everyone to cover immediate expenses. Some people tried to misinterpret this information. This is immediate support so families accompanying their loved ones do not have to use their own resources, but there will clearly be full compensation for damages if the families decide so. That process first involves the train's insurer," Sheinbaum said.

She added that the process does not end there and will continue as federal authorities move forward with the investigation.

"The Attorney General's Office must work with the victims on this full compensation. Everyone will be supported, both those who remain hospitalized and those who, unfortunately, lost a loved one," Sheinbaum added.

Mexico's Navy said on Dec. 28 that the crash happened around 9:30 a.m., when a passenger train derailed and pulled four railcars off the tracks. Navy Secretary Raymundo Pedro Morales said 13 people were killed and 98 others were injured, with 44 still hospitalized.

Morales said authorities are still working to recover the body of one victim at the scene.

He added that all evidence is under custody, including a Pulse device he described as a "railway black box," which records speed, acceleration, braking and other key data used to reconstruct how the train was operating before the crash.

So far, the cause of the derailment remains unknown. As reported by El País, Morales said that about 90 minutes before the train departed, a track inspection vehicle confirmed there were no obstructions, structural issues or deformities, and that the line was clear for operation.

In a video circulating on social media, one passenger said the train appeared to be traveling at a high speed before the crash. "We felt the train was going very fast. We don't know if it lost its brakes," the passenger said.