| 2013 Mexico train accident | |
| Date: | 25 August 2013 |
| Location: | Huimanguillo, Tabasco |
| Country: | Mexico |
| Trains: | 1 |
| Passengers: | 300 |
| Deaths: | 12 |
| Injuries: | at least 22 |
The 2013 Mexico train accident occurred on August 25, 2013 after the freight train "La Bestia", with 300 passengers on board, was derailed in Huimanguillo, Tabasco. The accident killed 12 people and another 22 were injured, 16 of them were in grave condition.[1] [2] [3]
The freight train, transporting corn, cement, and minerals from Arriaga to LecherÃa railway station was known to have carried 400,000 to 500,000 illegal migrants from Central America heading to the United States, as boarding the train allowed migrants to avoid Mexican immigration checkpoints and detention centers.[4] [5]
The freight train derailed around 3:00 am on Sunday, as 8 of the 12 cars were overturned.
Ambulances were unable to reach the area due to the difficult terrain. At least 12 were confirmed dead by the end of August after the removal of the train remnants. The cause of the accident is believed to be caused by the shifted tracks caused by the hard rain.[6]
In 2014, train operators have banned passengers from traveling on the train.[7]