At least five people have died after a bus travelling from Berlin to Switzerland came off a major road in eastern Germany and ended up on its side, authorities said.

The accident happened on the A9 highway near Leipzig at about 9.45am (8.45am GMT), leading to the road being closed in both directions.

It was not immediately clear why the bus, which was operated by Flixbus and en route from Berlin to Zurich, came off the road. Rescue helicopters and ambulances are at the scene.

Police spokesman Olaf Hoppe told n-tv television that there were “numerous injured and at least five dead”.

Flixbus said there were 53 passengers and two drivers on board, German news agency dpa reported.

The company said it was working closely with local authorities and rescue services and would do everything to clear up the cause of the accident quickly.

The A9 is a major north-south route that links Berlin with Munich. The scene of the accident was just north of a highway interchange at Schkeuditz, next to the Leipzig/Halle airport.