Section of Mexico City metro collapsed: at least 23 dead, more than 50 injured

At least 23 people died and 70 were injured Monday night when a Mexico City metro train fell from a collapsed bridge., the authorities reported.

“Unfortunately, there are 23 dead, including one in a hospital,” the mayor of the Mexican capital told reporters on Tuesday. Claudia Sheinbaum, who previously reported 20 deaths in this incident.

The victims include minors, Sheinbaum said earlier., who also reported “seven seriously injured”.

In total 65 personas reciben atención en hospitalales y otros pocos tuvieron lesiones leves y no necesitaron atención médica, agregó la alcaldesa en el puesto de mando instalado en el sitio de la tragedia, donde se podía observar parte del tren colgando del puente de unos 12 Of height.

At the scene, a man was awaiting news of his brother, who he said was trapped in a wagon: “He came with his wife and they managed to get her out, but he was crushed there and the truth is that since we don’t know anything, they don’t give us reports (…). To get it out, who knows how long (it will take)?“He told AFP.

Sheinbaum said the accident happened when a beam from the viaduct expired at Olivos station, around 10:00 p.m. local time (03:00 GMT).

Dozens of rescuers and firefighters evacuated the passengers, between twisted iron and cables, according to images on local television.

Given the weakening of the train, the work had to be suspended, but then they were picked up with the help of a crane.

Several injured were evacuated on their own, Sheinbaum said.

Ricardo de la Torre, neighbor of the area, commented on AFP that the passage of the train generally produces a strong vibration in the houses.

“Really in the morning, when the trains start to activate, to have their service, in the houses it is felt. By this simple fact we know that this construction is false“, Held.

Some of the injured were wearing neck braces and were transported in ambulances, amid screams and the sound of sirens.

Investigators from the prosecution came to identify the bodies and carry out expert reports aimed at establishing the causes of the accident.

“Truth and justice will be achieved “Sheinbaum guaranteed.

One person emerged alive from a car stuck under the rubble of the overpass, the mayor said.

The police, who came with rescue dogs, continuously urged spectators to withdraw to avoid accidents caused by falling debris.

“Suddenly I saw that the structure was shaking. It is not even a minute after the metro has fallen and a lot of dust has started to rise, ”an unidentified witness told local television station Televisa.

“When the dust cleared, we ran … to see if we could help. No screams were heard, I don’t know if they were in shock (…) some people managed to get in and took out about two people who were at the top. The others were stacked“, He added.

The area was cordoned off by police and National Guard soldiers to facilitate the dismantling of the wagons with thick chains.

José Martínez, a worker who usually takes the train to Tláhuac, enthusiastically told reporters that he was saved from the accident because he did not get on board after leaving work.

“I was saved for about 15 minutes. Fortunately, nothing happened to me!», He expressed.

This is the second accident recorded in the metro so far this year. Last january, fire in control facilities left one dead and 29 intoxicated. In March 2020, two trains collided inside a station, leaving one dead and 41 injured.

The Mexico City metro, inaugurated in 1969, is one of the main means of transport in the capital and its metropolis, where some 20 million people live. Line 12, on which Monday’s accident occurred, was inaugurated on October 30, 2012 by the current Mexican chancellor and then mayor of the capital, Marcelo Ebrard.

After lamenting this “terrible tragedy”, Ebrard offered to work together to determine “responsibilities”.

“I reiterate myself at the entire disposal of the authorities to contribute whatever is necessary,” he wrote on Twitter.

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