ELEVEN people were killed in a horrific crash involving a truck and a mini-bus taxi in Mpumalanga yesterday.

The provincial safety and security department said the accident happened on the R545 road between Kriel and Ogies when the minibus, transporting mine workers, collided with a heavy duty truck.

The miners work at the South Witbank Colliery mine in Emalahleni (Witbank), which is part of Xstrata.

"We suspect that one of the vehicles failed to stop at the stop sign because it happened next to the sign," said department spokesperson, Joseph Mabuza.

Mabuza said though the number of the dead was 11 late yesterday, the number might increase as more people were trapped underneath the wreckage.

"We will see what happens as soon as the bus has been lifted with the crane if there more survivors or not."

Xstrata Coal spokesperson Gugulethu Maqetuka, said his company was assisting the authorities where possible and awaits further details of the crash.

"We are at the moment unable to comment on the accident and we hope to issue a media release tomorrow," he said.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Leonard Hlathi said police were investigating the cause of the crash.

Thirteen survivors were rushed to Cosmos Hospital in Witbank while others were being treated at the mine hospital.

Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele expressed shock at "the loss of life".

"A team of accident and incident reconstruction experts was dispatched to the scene of the accident by the Road Traffic Management Corporation for investigations," he said last night.

Mpumalanga safety and security MEC Vusi Shongwe sent condolences to the families of the dead victims and wished a speedy recovery to all those hospitalised.

Shongwe also called for an intensification of roadblocks that would mainly focus on public transport and freight because accidents involving these transport modes result in too many fatalities.