A train hit railway workers in southwest China on Thursday, killing 11, local railway authorities said after the crash in Yunnan province.

According to city officials and state agency Xinhua, the train was conducting tests of earthquake-detection equipment when it struck a maintenance team on a curved section of track at Luoyangzhen (Luoyang Town) station, in the capital of Yunnan province.

The collision happened during overnight works, with the crew reportedly positioned within the test section when the train entered the curve.

Authorities said an emergency response was launched immediately, involving railway units and local government teams, with the two injured workers taken to hospital. Rail operations at the station have since returned to normal.

An investigation has been opened to determine how the workers came to be on the track during an active test run, with officials saying the focus will be on operational communication, permissions for track access and whether required protection measures were in place.