China Railway Lanzhao group said the incident occurred at around 5.25am local time on the Lanxin railway line in Jinchang city, Gansu province. Victims of the incident are construction personnel, according to Xinhua News agency. 

The railway department and local emergency response units have rushed to the scene to carry out treatment.

The train was on route from Urumqi to Hangzhou.

Gansu province was also the site of the Yellow River Stone Forest trail race, an ultramarathon event, that claimed the lives of 21 people when extreme weather conditions hit the runners.

Eight further victims were left injured in the 100km cross-country race located in Central China. 

On Wednesday, the General Administration of Sport announced an indefinite suspension of the race along with any “high-risk sports events with unclear management responsibilities, imperfect rules and unclear safety protection standards.”

More follows…