Suspected food poisoning in a rural kindergarten in southwest China's Yunnan Province killed two pupils and left 30 hospitalized on Wednesday, local authorities said.

Thirty-two children showed symptoms of possible food poisoning at around 3:20 p.m. in Jiajia Kindergarten in Pinglong Village under Qiubei County.

They were taken to a local hospital for treatment, according to a statement released by the county's publicity department.

Two died after medical treatment failed and another five are in critical condition, the statement said.

The kindergarten has a total of 76 students, all of whom have been sent to hospital for medical observation, the statement added.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.