Authorities say 19 people were killed and 24 others injured in a train crash in Mpumalanga, a province in eastern South Africa.

An emergency service spokesman says the accident happened today when a truck carrying farm workers collided with a train at a level crossing.

Police say they are investigating the cause of the accident.

A local community spokesman describes the scene as "gruesome" with several bodies scattered around. He says it is unknown how many workers were in the truck at the time.