Two transport disasters have struck a north-eastern Chinese province, with a bridge collapse upending four trucks killing three people and passenger trains colliding at a railway station injuring at least 24.

The trucks plunged 30 metres (100ft) after the suspension bridge collapsed early on Friday in Heilongjiang province, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. State television footage showed the vehicles crushed upside down and officials reported three deaths.

Xinhua said it was at least the sixth major bridge collapse across the country since July last year.

The train collision occurred on Thursday evening at Jiamusi in Heilongjiang, Xinhua said. The news agency cited a railway spokesman in the provincial capital as saying most of the injured were preparing to get off a train when the other train ran into it.

Most of the injuries were slight and five people were under medical observation, Xinhua said, adding that an investigation was under way.

Train and road accidents are relatively common in China due to lax safety and maintenance procedures.