At least seven people have died after a highway bridge collapsed in a region close to the Ukraine border, according to Russian emergency services.

The bridge in Bryansk brought down several heavy trucks on to a moving passenger train as it collapsed, with 31 people also reportedly injured.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry said fire and rescue units were attempting to find people who had been travelling on the train.

In a statement posted to Telegram, Moscow Railway alleged the bridge had collapsed “as a result of illegal interference in transport operations”.

“Unfortunately, there are seven fatalities,” local governor Alexander Bogomaz said on Telegram, adding two people – including a child – are “seriously injured”.

All casualties have been taken to medical facilities in the Bryansk region, he added.

Moscow’s interregional transport prosecutor’s office said an investigation had been launched.

Authorities said the train’s locomotive and several cars derailed when the road bridge fell on to it.

Additional emergency workers, as well as rescue equipment and light towers for carrying out work at night have been sent to the area, according to Russian news agency Tass.

Pictures online showed mangled carriages and passengers helping each other climb out of the wreckage in the dark.

The train was evacuated and passengers were guided to a meeting point at a nearby station, Moscow Railway said, adding: “They will be able to continue their journey on a specially formed reserve train” travelling from Bryansk to Moscow.

The incident took place about 100km (62 miles) from the Ukraine border.