Eight people were killed and 22 others injured when a tour bus veered off a Malaysian highway and caught fire early on Thursday morning, media reports said.

The accident occurred at around 1am near the town of Tapah at 326km on the country’s main north-south highway, as the bus was en route to a mountain resort, the reports said.

The bus belonging to LBS Travel and Tours was on its way from Kerian in Perak to the Genting Highlands.

The driver of the bus had swerved to avoid hitting a tyre in the road and lost control of the vehicle and the bus plunged into a ditch and overturned, bursting into flames.

The injured victims are being treated at the Tapah Hospital.

Two others managed to escape unhurt.