At least 13 people have been killed and 34 injured after a bus carrying foreign students crashed on a Spanish motorway between the cities of Barcelona and Valencia on Sunday. All of those who died were female, officials say.

The passengers included Spaniards and foreign nationals from around 20 countries, authorities said.

The students, part of the Erasmus exchange program, had traveled to the eastern city of Valencia to take part in the renowned Fallas fireworks festival and were returning when the bus crashed.

Spanish Interior Minister said 28 passengers received medical treatment in local hospitals and others received first aid at the crash site.