China train crash: 70 killed, hundreds injured

28 Apr, 2008 06:26 / Updated 16 years ago

At least 70 people have been killed and more than 400 injured after two passenger trains crashed in eastern China, according to the country's Xinhua news agency.

A train, travelling from Beijing to the coastal city of Qingdao, ran off the track near the town of Zibo. The second train, travelling from Yantai to Xuzhou, crashed into derailed carriages minutes later and also left the track. So far, 500 people have been taken to hospital, among them four French nationals who are reported to be in a serious condition.   The country's Railways Minister has arrived at the site to oversee the rescue operation. The cause of the crash is being investigated.