Ruben Villalpando and Jesus Estrada
Correspondents
The newspaper La Jornada
Thursday, September 5, 2024, p. 11
Ciudad Juárez, Chih., Aaron, a four-year-old boy from Venezuela, died as a result of the derailment of 12 cars of the train owned by Ferromex that was heading from Villa Ahumada to Ciudad Juárez on Tuesday night; three members of the minor’s family were injured, including his mother, who suffered amputation of her right foot, and an undocumented Nicaraguan.
The boy was traveling with his relatives and other migrants on the back of the train, which they boarded in the city of Chihuahua, state authorities reported. After the accident, Aaron was reported missing, but was later found under one of the overturned train cars.
The accident occurred in the desert area of Juarez at around 10:30 p.m., although as of last night the authorities had not reported what caused the derailment.
They indicated that some of the freight train’s wagons were carrying hazardous materials, so the Fire Department of this city carried out an operation to immediately contain a sulfuric acid leak.
Municipal rescue personnel, Mexican Army and National Guard personnel, as well as the National Migration Institute (INM), among others, arrived at the scene and set about locating Aaron and rescuing four injured undocumented immigrants.
The injured are the father, the mother and a seven-year-old boy, brother of the deceased minor, as well as a 17-year-old teenager from Nicaragua.
The woman was identified as Ruth Sarahí Gallardo Torreal, 28, who is hospitalized at the Juárez General Hospital.
Meanwhile, the father and his seven-year-old son were treated on site for minor injuries; both were placed under the protection of the INM and contact was initiated with the consular authorities of their countries to arrange for assistance.
The Nicaraguan was identified as Yeferson PR, who suffered fractures in both legs and bruises on different parts of his body; he is hospitalized in clinic 66 of the IMSS in this border city.
