A Japanese-funded bridge under construction in southern Vietnam collapsed on Wednesday, killing up to 60 workers and injuring around 150 in the country's worst such disaster.

A contractor with a Chinese company working on the bridge being built in Can Tho city said 60 people were killed. State-run Vietnam TV said 48 casualties had been confirmed with scores unaccounted for.

One police officer reached by telephone said as many as 100 could be dead or missing.