JOHANNESBURG - At least three Chinese tourists were killed and an unidentified number of others injured when their bus collided with a van near Johannesburg on Wednesday, the Chinese Embassy in South Africa confirmed.

The bus, which was carrying a group of 20 Chinese tourists who arrived in Johannesburg earlier Wednesday, was on its way to Sun City in northwest of Johannesburg when the bukkie ran head-on with it, according to the Walk Through Africa Tours, a travel agency which arranged the tour.

According to information gathered at the scene, at least three tourists were killed in the accident, said a Chinese official who was at the scene assisting the rescue.

Most of the tourists, some of them suffering injuries at various levels, were sent back to Johannesburg, said the official, who refused to be named.

Two witnesses at the scene said the bukkie collided with the bus when trying to overtake another vehicle on the road. It appeared that the driver was drunk.

It remained unknown whether the bukkie driver was injured or killed.

Police were still investigating the cause of the accident.