Dozens killed in truck and bus crash in southwest France
Dozens of people have been killed in a truck and bus crash near Bordeaux in southwest France.
It's believed at least 42 victims were mostly elderly people going on a day trip to Bearn.
The bus left the village of Petit-Palais in the early morning.
The impact was so strong that both vehicles burst into flames, the victims were burned alive.
Reports say the truck was loaded with wood.
French police report that the crash occurred near the town of Puisseguin about 7.30am, they believed that death toll was so unusually high because the bus caught fire.
It's not clear how many people were on the bus, or their nationalities or other details.
An official said scores of emergency workers were called to help - at least 60 firefighters were assisting at the scene. The official was not authorized to be publicly named.
Reports say there was only eight survivors - three are seriously hurt, while five have minor injuries.
Those who survived managed to escape by breaking windows on the bus.
Both drivers are believed to be among those who died.
Mayor of Petit-Palais, Patricia Raichin, is one of those directly affected by the tragedy - she has lost three members of her family.
French President François Hollande tweeted to confirm the government had responded to the incident.
Un accident a provoqué de nombreux morts en Gironde. Le gouvernement français est totalement mobilisé sur cette terrible tragédie.
— François Hollande (@fhollande) October 23, 2015
"An accident has caused many deaths in the Gironde. The French government is fully mobilized on this terrible tragedy," a message from his official account read.
It is France's worst road accident since 1982 when 53 people, including 44 children, died in Beaune in Cote-d'Or.
More to come.
