Beijing: At least 154 people, including 76 students, have been confirmed killed in train explosion at the Ryongchon railway station in North Korea, China's official media reported today (Apr 24, 2004) from the site of the accident which is close to the Chinese border.

The number of people injured in the accident was not given. However, earlier reports suggested that the figure might be around 1,500.

Xinhua news agency said the death toll was provided by Jang Song Gun, a senior North Korean official in charge of rescue efforts on the scene of the accident.

Xinhua is one of the handful of foreign news media allowed to work out of the Stalinist State of North Korea.