No fewer than 13 people perish and ninety-eight wounded in train crash in Mexico.

A deadly railway accident in the Mexican 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 route developed to link the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean across the thinnest stretch of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. This endeavor was designed to establish an alternative rail cargo route to the Panama Canal, intended to promote regional growth in the area.

“We will rigorously clarify the reasons behind this tragedy,” declared the national leader.

The president announced that, of the some 250 people on board, another 98 were injured, with five of those in serious condition. The leader added plans to travel to Oaxaca to speak with those involved.

Flagship Project of Past Leadership

The Interoceanic Train was a central public works project of the immediate past president, whose time in office finished the year before. This rail line was a hallmark of his leadership's developmental agenda for the southern region.

Another ambitious train initiative from that time, a passenger and freight circuit around the Yucatán Peninsula, was also central to the wider plan to stimulate the economic fortunes of a relatively poorer part of the country.

Building Management and Safety Concerns

The construction of both rail lines was overseen by the army, marking a notable growth of its duties in civilian infrastructure. They were completed at an accelerated rate, beating expectations to be at least partly inaugurated before the end of that administration.

However, this accelerated timeline had also raised persistent questions over operational security.

• Sunday's derailment was the third such incident on the Interoceanic Train in the current year.
• This encompasses an earlier crash this month when a train smashed into a truck at a railroad crossing.
• The other major rail project has also seen a couple of non-fatal derailments.

Appeals for Investigation and Halt

In the wake of the catastrophe, the leader of a key rival party demanded an urgent pause in the development and management of all similar projects.

This halt was suggested until the completion of a comprehensive safety audit. The party stated that the situation "calls for swift accountability."

In response, the president maintained that the train had been running in total accordance with all security protocols. Promises were given that the government would remain "accountable" in both the construction and running of these strategic undertakings.