CAPE TOWN - At least 20 people were killed near Cape Town when a train collided with a truck carrying farm workers at a railway crossing on Monday morning.

All those killed were farm workers on the back of the truck, said Netcare 911 spokesman Chris Botha.

He said another three patients were in a critical condition, while three were described as being in a serious condition. Another two people suffered minor injuries.

It was not immediately known if the train driver was among the injured, according to a report by South African Press Association.

The truck was crossing the tracks when the accident happened shortly before 8 a.m. at the Faure rail crossing near Somerset West.