Two trains collide in China killing dozens and injuring hundreds
{{date|April 28, 2008}} 
{{China}}
[[Image:China-Shandong.png|left|200px|thumb|Location of Shandong within China.]]
Two trains collided in [[w:Shandong|Shandong]], [[China]] 4:41am local time on Monday killing at least 71 people and injuring over 400, including four [[France|French]] citizens. It is still not known exactly how many people were on either of the trains.

The collision occurred in [[w:Zibo|Zibo]] when one of the trains traveling from [[w:Beijing|Beijing]] to [[w:Qingdao|Qingdao]] jumped tracks and collided head on with a train traveling in the opposite direction from [[w:Yantai|Yantai]] to [[w:Xuzhou|Xuzhou]]. Both of the trains are reported to have been traveling at their maximum speeds when they collided.

"It toppled 90 degrees to one side and then all the way to the other side. When it finally went off the tracks, many people fell on me and hot water poured out of their thermos flasks," said Zhang, a passenger, to [[w:Xinhua|Xinhua]].
 
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but reports say that the tracks were broken under the train traveling from Beijing. The tracks are said to have been built in 1897.

Jinan Railway Bureau officials Chen Gong and  Chai Tiemin  have been fired after the accident.  The two top officials who were the former director and former Communist Party chief, respectively, will face an investigation by the Ministry of Railways. 

Four [[France|Frenchmen]] were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities named them as Pascal Boisson, 54, his son Pierre Emmanuel Boisson, 14, his daughter Joanne Boisson, 22, and his girlfriend Robin Naurence, 42. No foreigners were killed in the accident, officials said.

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/28/content_8068767.htm
|title=Train collision kills at least 70, injures hundreds
|author=Bi Mingxin
|pub=Xinhua
|date=April 28, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=15166&t=China%3A+deadly+train+disaster+in+Shandong
|title=China: deadly train disaster in Shandong
|author=
|pub=Spero News
|date=April 28, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5j_vWXDaTd2o4Oz1U4C_tCr4k6SbA
|title=China passenger train collision kills at least 66, injures more than 400
|author=
|pub=Canadian Press
|date=April 28, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/04/28/china-train.html
|title=Train wreck in eastern China kills dozens, injures nearly 250
|author=
|pub=CBC News
|date=April 28, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3830815.ece
|title=Scores of people killed in worst China train crash in a decade
|author=Jane Macartney
|pub=Times Online
|date=April 28, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h9KrmQMVaQ2ZZ8eojnfkdeULpd_QD90ANC4O1
|title=Train collision kills 66 in China
|author=Anita Chang
|pub=Associated Press
|date=April 28, 2008}}

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{{archived}}

[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:China]]
[[Category:France]]
[[Category:Disasters and accidents]]
[[Category:Transport]]
[[Category:Rail transport]]

[[bs:U sudaru dva voza u Kini poginulo preko 70 osoba]]
[[de:Mindestens 70 Tote bei schwerem Zugunglück in China]]
[[es:Choque de trenes deja 70 muertos en China]]
[[pt:Choque entre trens na China deixa cerca de 70 mortos]]
Location of Shandong within China.
Two trains collided in Shandong, China 4:41am local time on Monday killing at least 71 people and injuring over 400, including four French citizens. It is still not known exactly how many people were on either of the trains.

The collision occurred in Zibo when one of the trains traveling from Beijing to Qingdao jumped tracks and collided head on with a train traveling in the opposite direction from Yantai to Xuzhou. Both of the trains are reported to have been traveling at their maximum speeds when they collided.

"It toppled 90 degrees to one side and then all the way to the other side. When it finally went off the tracks, many people fell on me and hot water poured out of their thermos flasks," said Zhang, a passenger, to Xinhua.
 
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but reports say that the tracks were broken under the train traveling from Beijing. The tracks are said to have been built in 1897.

Jinan Railway Bureau officials Chen Gong and  Chai Tiemin  have been fired after the accident.  The two top officials who were the former director and former Communist Party chief, respectively, will face an investigation by the Ministry of Railways. 

Four Frenchmen were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities named them as Pascal Boisson, 54, his son Pierre Emmanuel Boisson, 14, his daughter Joanne Boisson, 22, and his girlfriend Robin Naurence, 42. No foreigners were killed in the accident, officials said.


bs:U sudaru dva voza u Kini poginulo preko 70 osoba
de:Mindestens 70 Tote bei schwerem Zugunglück in China
es:Choque de trenes deja 70 muertos en China
Choque entre trens na China deixa cerca de 70 mortos
Asia China France Disasters and accidents Transport Rail transport