Some 1,000 soldiers and armed police, as well as 700 reservists, have been rushed to help with the rescue work following Monday's train collision in Shandong Province, said military authorities.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the armed police were mainly assigned to rescue the injured, remove the bodies of the dead and seal off the scene, said Zhao Zongqi, chief of staff of the Jinan Military District.

Liu Changwei, head of a military hospital near the scene, said its staff had rescued some 80 injured passengers.

Medical workers from another local hospital affiliated with the armed police have removed 50 victims' bodies, according to its deputy head, Tian Yingjun.

The early Monday morning accident is so far known to have killed 70 and injured 420, officials with the rescue headquarters said.

Zhao said the military would fully cooperate with local governments in rescuing and treating the injured and dealing with the aftermath, so that the railway would resume operation soon.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2008)