Two students from Curtin University have been shot in New Orleans.

The pair, from Curtin University in Perth, are believed to have been shot as they were visiting the Algiers area of the Louisiana city early Tuesday morning.

According to local newspaper reports, one student was shot in the stomach while the other was shot in the chest.

New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison told The New Orleans Advocate the two men, aged 21 and 23, had been shot after taking a taxi to the Algiers area, in the city’s West Bank, at about 4.15am.

Curtin Vice Chancellor Deborah Terry confirmed the incident saying the WA School of Mines students were now in a stable condition in hospital.

Professor Terry said the duo were in the US as part of the WASM Wombats team which was competing in the Intercollegiate Mining Games in Butte, Montana.

The team won its second straight men’s world title.

After the games finished, the duo flew to New Orleans for a private holiday, she added.

“Both students’ families have been contacted and are arranging to travel to the US,” Prof Terry said. “The University is providing support and assistance to the injured students and their families. Support is also being provided to the others in the group who were not in the vicinity of the shooting and are unharmed.”

Curtin WA School of Mines director Professor Sam Spearing will also fly to New Orleans tonight to provide support to the students and their families.

“This is a very distressing situation and our thoughts are with the injured students and their families. Curtin will continue to provide all the support it can to all those involved,” Professor Terry said.

More to come.