(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-28 15:56

JINAN -- The train collision in East China's Shandong Province that killed 66 people and injured another 247 was caused by human error, according to preliminary investigation on Monday.

Authorities have ruled out the possibility of terrorist acts.

Two high-ranking railway officials were sacked on Monday following the accident. Chen Gong, former director, and Chai Tiemin, former Party secretary of the Jinan Railway Bureau were sacked and subject to investigation by the Ministry of Railways, Xinhua learnt from the rescue headquarters.

The ministry has appointed Geng Zhixiu, deputy engineer-in-chief of the ministry as the new director, and Xu Chang'an, deputy chair of the ministry's trade union as the new Party chief.

The train from Beijing, coded T195, derailed in the city of Zibo in Shandong Province at around 4:40 am. About 10 carriages toppled into a ditch.

The derailed train hit train 5034 and caused the latter to veer off its tracks, too.