MEXICO CITY, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and 45 others injured early Monday when a double-deck passenger bus was hit by a train in central Mexico, authorities said.

The collision occurred on the Atlacomulco-Maravatio federal highway in the Atlacomulco municipality, the State of Mexico, according to media reports.

The injured were transferred to a hospital, while emergency agencies were working at the scene, the state's civil protection agency said at around 8:30 a.m. local time.

Local media reported that the bus departed from San Felipe del Progreso, a municipality in the State of Mexico, early in the morning en route to Mexico City.

An online video showed that on a busy road where many cars were waiting, the double-decker slowly crossed the tracks and was then hit by the train and pushed forward along the railway.

The state's video surveillance system said the highway was closed in both directions while rescue and forensic work continued.  ■