Summary：Rescuers search for missing peopleafter a freight train derails in Gongyi, Central China's Henan province on A...

At least four people were killed and two remained missing after a freight train owned by China's largest State-owned aluminum producer flew off the rails in Gongyi, Central China's Henan province, on Wednesday night, according to local authorities.

The train, which belongs to the Aluminum Corporation of China Limited, damaged a village house after it derailed and overturned. Four crew members died in the crash and two villagers living near the rail line went missing.

The search and rescue mission is still underway, according to the city’s publicity department on Thursday.

The 22-kilometer railway was constructed in the 1950s to transport aluminum ore. There are currently three trains setting off from Gongyi to the corporation on a daily basis, the department said.

The accident took place at a continuous downhill area where there is an approximately 22-meter decrease in altitude per kilometer. And the train weighs over 2,350 tons in total, with 25 cars each loaded with 60 tons of aluminum ore, it said.

The first 13 cars were distorted and piled up with a large amount of aluminum ore after colliding with a house, which left limited room and made it difficult for the rescue team to find people still unaccounted for, it said, adding that it now only allowed one truck crane to clean the debris.

The rescuers are still searching for the two missing people with the help of rescue dogs and life detectors. More than 200 people, including public security officers, emergency rescue workers and medical staff, have taken part in the rescue effort. The local government mobilized two truck cranes and six ambulances to join the mission.

The incident occurred at 10 pm on Wednesday. It was so far not clear what caused the train to leave its tracks. And the corporation suspended the operation of all trains on the line.