Twelve people have been killed after a minibus collided with a truck in France, Sky News quoted officials as saying.

A group of Portuguese people who had been visiting Switzerland were on board the minibus when the accident happened shortly before midnight. 

In a statement, local authorities said all of the passengers on the coach had been killed.

According to France's La Montagne newspaper, a child and his parents were among those who lost their lives.

A local village hall was being used as a temporary morgue.

Two Italian drivers aboard the heavy goods vehicle are unhurt but in a state of shock, and have told officers that the minivan had veered into the path of oncoming traffic - leaving them with nowhere to turn.

The minivan's driver survived the crash but has been taken to hospital.

The crash occurred on a highway between Moulins and Montbeugny in central France.

Source: MENA