Mexico City metro: Hundreds protest at scene of deadly rail collapse
Hundreds of people have gathered in Mexico City to demand justice for those who were killed when a metro overpass collapsed earlier this week.
Demonstrators converged from around the city and held a vigil at the site of the accident late on Friday.
At least 26 people died and dozens more were injured in the collapse, which happened on an elevated track with a history of safety concerns.
The authorities have promised to carry out a full investigation.
Anger has grown after details emerged that suggested successive warnings about the safety of the elevated track on Line 12 – which was built in 2012 – were ignored by officials.
There were concerns about design problems and construction standards, as well as allegations of corruption. The line was also closed for more than 18 months over apparent structural faults.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has said “nothing [will] be hidden” in the inquiry. A Norwegian engineering firm has been asked to help prosecutors with the investigation, and the full timetable of the inquiry will be published next week.
“What happened is due to negligence, due to corruption,” one protester, Briseida Noguez, told the AFP news agency on Friday.
“I’m here in solidarity with all the people who died. They no longer have a voice,” she added.
The protesters held signs and chanted “justice!”, while small scuffles broke out as the police tried to prevent demonstrators from reaching the site of the accident.
“It’s a disgrace for society, for our community. I hope that all the people rest in peace and hopefully receive justice,” another protester, Erick Medina, told AFP.
Many people lit candles and placed flowers at the scene, and a list of the victims’ names was read out to the crowd.
Agencies