Six people were killed when a train collided with a school bus in eastern France near the border with Switzerland, police said on Monday.

Four people were seriously hurt and another 27 suffered lighter injuries, police said, adding that the casualty toll could rise.

The accident occurred at around 2.00 p.m. (1200 GMT) when a regional train struck the bus at a level crossing near the town of Mesinges in the Haute Savoie area. National rail operator SNCF will launch an investigation to determine the cause of the crash, a spokesman said.

Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie was on her way to the site, her office said.

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