At least 22 people have been killed when a bus fell from an elevated highway onto another vehicle in a suburban region of the Philippines capital Manila.

The incident took place at about 05:00 am local time in Taguig city, south of Manila.

The police said 10 people died on the spot when the bus plunged into a van below. Most of the victims were the passengers of the bus as there were only two people inside the van, suggest local reports. Both the occupants of the van have also been killed.

The driver of the bus has survived.

More than 20 people have been injured and have been taken to hospitals. The death toll is likely to increase as some of the injured are in serious condition.

It is not clear what caused the crash. The authorities have launched an investigation to find out what went wrong.

The bus was operated by the Don Mariano Transit Corporation. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has ordered the vehicles run by the firm to be taken off the road until the probe is completed.

"LTFRB policy is immediately to suspend the franchise of the bus company but because of the Don Mariano's past accidents, the LTFRB and Don Mariano management agreed to cancel all operations," the board's chairperson Winston Ginez told a local radio station.

Philippines bus crash
Bodies of passengers lie beside a bus after it fell off an elevated expressway and crashed into a van below in Taguig city, south of Manila Reuters
Philippines bus crash
Pedestrians walk beside an overturned bus lying along a busy street at Bicutan after the bus fell off an elevated expressway and crashed into a van below in Taguig city, south of Manila Reuters
Philippines bus crash
Bodies of passengers lie beside a bus after it fell off an elevated expressway and crashed into a van below in Taguig city, south of Manila Reuters
Philippines bus crash
Pedestrians walk on top of an overturned bus as they try to cross the road after the bus fell off an elevated expressway and crashed into a van below in Taguig city, south of Manila Reuters
Philippines bus crash
A policeman searches for personal belongings of passengers after a bus fell off an elevated expressway and crashed into a van below in Taguig city, south of Manila Reuters
Philippines bus crash
A policewoman searches for personal belongings of passengers after a bus fell off an elevated expressway and crashed into a van below in Taguig city, south of Manila Reuters
Philippines bus crash
A policewoman searches for personal belongings of passengers after a bus fell off an elevated expressway and crashed into a van below in Taguig city, south of Manila Reuters