A collision between two passenger trains in Heping County in
south China's Guangdong Province yesterday resulted in the
deaths of two men and injuries to many travelers.
The No 1017 train, en-route from Wuchang in Hubei Province to
Shantou in Guangdong, was struck from behind by express train No
T159 which was traveling from Qingdao in Shandong Province to
Guangzhou in Guangdong Province. The accident happened at the end
of the Ma'an Tunnel in Linzhai Town, Heping County at 9:32 AM
yesterday.
Heping is in the city of Heyuan in northeastern Guangdong. The
accident happened on a stretch of track linking Beijing and Kowloon
in Hong Kong, according to a statement from the Ministry of
Railways.
Four rear carriages of train No 1017 were derailed including one
which was knocked over. The engine of the No T159 train was
damaged.
Approximately 40 passengers and a number of rails workers were
treated at local hospitals for injuries, said a local official.
Those seriously hurt were transferred to Heping County People's
Hospital. Six travelers were seriously injured but not in a
critical condition, the local official said. He added that the
identities of those killed and injured were not yet available.
Local government used buses to move more than 700 other
passengers from the accident scene.
The cause of the collision was under investigation as rescue
workers cleared the site and repaired the damaged railway.
(China Daily April 12, 2006)