Chinese railway authorities confirmed that the death toll is at least 70 after an early Monday train collision in east China's Shandong Province. more than 400 passengers were hospitalized including 4 foreigners.

When the accident occurred, the rear part of the train from Beijing, coded T195 derailed and hit train 5034 from Yantai, and caused the front part of the latter train to derail, too.

The casualties were from two passengers trains, one of which was en route from Beijing to Qingdao, a famous summer resort in Shandong and venue of the Olympic sailing competition, and the other, from Shandong's Yantai to Xuzhou in eastern Jiangsu Province.

The accident happened by a village near the city of Zibo in Shandong Province at around 4:40 a.m. Altogether 15 carriages derailed.

Rescue teams, consisting of medical workers and policemen, have been sent to the neighboring cities of Jinan and Weifang.

Top Chinese leaders including President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao heard the news, and Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang, Minister of Railways Liu Zhijun are at the site, coordinating the rescue work.

Initial investigation says the accident was caused by human error. Two railway officials have been sacked after the accident.