France's worst road crash in decades

Death toll rises to 42 in horrific France's worst road crash in decades

Some 42 people have been killed in a road crash in southern France this morning.

Local media have reported that a collision between a bus and a truck occurred near the southern city of Bordeaux.

The vehicles are believed to have been travelling in Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion when the incident occurred around 7.30am (local time). 

Both the bus and the truck burst into flames when the two vehicles collided.

Around 50 pensioners were aboard the coach on a trip and only five people have survived the crash, the Sud Ouest newspaper has reported.

There have been conflicting reports as to the death toll number but police have now reported that 42 have been killed in the crash.

A spokesman for the interior ministry said that, as far as he could tell, all the passengers were French and from the region.

President Francois Hollande, speaking on a visit to Athens, said he had been "plunged into sadness by the tragedy".

Prime Minister Manuel Valls and other ministers were heading to the crash site.

The incident is the most deadly road accident in France since 53 people, mostly children, died in a bus crash in Burgundy in July 1982.