Five children were killed after a small truck hit a crowd of school students on Friday afternoon in southwest China's Guizhou Province, the local government said.

Authorities have ruled out intentional harm but are investigating why the truck lost control, according to a district administration in the city of Bijie, where the accident happened.

Three children died at the scene, while two others lost their lives in hospital. Another two were injured.

The accident happened after the primary school students finished class, rescuers said.