At least 19 people were killed and 24 others injured when a truck collided with a train at a level crossing in Malelane, Mpumalanga, on Friday morning, paramedics said.

The truck had been carrying farm workers on the N4 when it collided with the train at the Tulluh level crossing around 7am, Netcare 911 spokesman Jeff Wicks said.

Thulani Sibuyi, head of eastern Mpumalanga province's community safety department, told Agence France Press that at least 30 people had been killed.

Victims had been "torn into pieces" and parademics were still on the scene east of the provincial capital Nelspruit, he said.

"It would appear as if the truck driver may have crossed the railway line without having a proper look-out, and as a result the train hit him and then pulled [the truck] for about a kilometre to two kilometres," said Sibuyi.