The Chinese embassy in Russia is actively handling the sudden death of a female citizen on a train, Li Huilai, minister counsellor at the embassy, told Xinhua on Thursday.

The embassy immediately contacted the Russian authorities on learning of the incident on Wednesday, Li said.

A total of 101 Chinese workers were on board the train heading from the Far Eastern city of Blagoveshchensk to Moscow. The workers were on their way to plant vegetables in the Kaluga region, Li said.

The train stopped at Zuyevka station in the Kirov region at about 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, when a 24-year-old Chinese woman suddenly died. Her body was taken off the train, and another 51 Chinese workers were sent to a local hospital for quarantine and medical examinations, including the deceased woman's husband and parents, Li said.

He said during the medical examination, some of the workers were found to have body temperatures above normal.

Li said the Chinese embassy has urged the Russian authorities to find the cause of death as soon as possible, take care of the other 51 workers, and keep the embassy informed.

He said that some personnel from the embassy have already left for the region on Thursday.

According to local media, the cause of the woman's death has not yet been determined. All the Chinese workers have received blood tests in hospital, and the preliminary results will be announced later.

(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2009)