Bridge failure causes horrific train crash in Mexico City

Rescue workers try to pull out survivors of the rail overpass collapse in Mexico City.

Death and injury resulted from a subway bridge collapse in Mexico City.

Yesterday, at 10:22 p.m., a bridge supporting a moving Mexico City subway train collapsed, causing the train to dive on to the ground below. The death toll was at least 23 and over 70 were injured, according The New York Times. Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico City’s mayor, reported that those who died included children.

The Times reports that this elevated subway bridge was relatively new, having been completed in 2012. However, there were allegations of poor construction methods shortly after it opened. Then, a major earthquake hit Mexico City in 2017, causing cracks in the concrete structure of the overpass. One resident said that the cracks had been repaired, but he didn’t know anything about the extent of the repairs.

Mexico’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the crash was “sad news.” He added that “We send our condolences to the families of the victims of this accident.”

Mayor Sheinbaum said that the subway line and the avenue on which the train landed will be closed until further notice. She also said “At this moment, we can’t speculate about what happened. There has to be a deep investigation, and whoever is responsible has to be held responsible.”

RT&S will continue to follow and report on this story. Please click here for another report on this accident in today’s news.