At least 43 dead in China train collision: state media

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

BEIJING (AFP) — At least 43 people were killed and nearly 250 injured early Monday when a passenger train from Beijing careered off the rails and slammed into another train in eastern China, state media reported.

The train was travelling to Qingdao -- the coastal city that will host the Olympic sailing competition in August -- when it derailed, causing the other train to leave the tracks too.

The accident happened in the city of Zibo in Shandong province, state-run Xinhua news agency said.

It cited unidentified rail officials saying the death toll so far was 43, and that 51 of the 247 injured were in a critical conditions.

Witnesses said many passengers were able to climb out of the wrecked train carriages shortly afterwards, some wrapped up in bed...