According to the Australian ABC News broadcaster, the crash occurred near Gumlu, north of Bowen on the Bruce Highway on the northern Queensland coast.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson told local media that 27 people were injured, including seven in critical condition, Xinhua news agency reported.

Australian news website news.com.au reports that several people have been pulled from the debris, but others are believed to be trapped inside the crashed vehicles.

The report said several paramedic teams were on the scene, along with several police units and other emergency responders, with two rescue helicopters also dispatched to the scene.