A bus carrying university students collided with a car killing at least 15 youngsters in the early hours of Monday morning.

The vehicle from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (Upsi) was traveling through Perak state when it crashed into the SUV at around 1am local time.

Fire crews arrived at the scene of the crash on the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding in the town of Gerik. The bus was overturned with a number of students trapped inside.

Perak Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said 42 students were in the bus along with a driver and attendant. Four others were in the car.

Officials said 13 students died at the scene, while another two died at the hospital. A number of others were injured.