Three men died and 17 were seriously injured after a bus overturned between Bethal and Kriel on Friday morning, Mpumalanga police said.

The bus driver lost control as he approached a curve near Matla power station around 7am.

The bus overturned and three men including the driver died at the scene, said police spokesman Superintendent Abie Khoabane.

Seventeen people sustained serious injuries and they were rushed to hospital in Trichardt.

Police attributed the accident to the wet weather.

This is the third fatal bus accident in Mpumalanga this year.

Sapa