Rescue work by the Ministry of Railways, the Shandong provincial government, and the Zibo city government is continuing.

"We are sparing no effort to extricate and save injured passengers," Liu Zhijun, minister of railways, said yesterday. He is at the scene directing operations.

Liu said he is also trying to ensure normal traffic will resume as soon as possible. An investigation into the accident will be carried out.

The emergency office of the Shandong provincial government said personnel from public security, health, and police in Zibo and the nearby cities of Jinan and Weifang were at the scene to help out.

Thirty-four medical stations have been set up, and 130 ambulances deployed. More than 700 doctors and medical workers are also at the scene.

More than 400 injured people have been sent to 19 hospitals, an emergency medical center in Zibo said.

The Jinan railway bureau issued an emergency order at 4:49 am, eight minutes after the collision.

The Ministry of Railways and the Shandong provincial government put into action an emergency plan to carry out rescue work.

The provincial government and the railways ministry have transferred waiting passengers to other stations, and some have been sent to hotels.

A counseling group has been set up to receive family members of the dead and injured, and the foreign affairs department of Zibo city is looking after the foreign passengers, the Xinhua News Agency said.

Chinese website Sohu.com reported that the exact number of casualties has yet to be determined.