Dozens of people are feared dead after an aircraft carrying about 80 people ploughed into a commercial area of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
At least nine people were killed when an airliner ploughed into a commercial area during take-off in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Six survivors were pulled to safety while many people are feared dead on the ground in the Birere district.
It appears the plane skidded in wet weather, smashing through a wall and catching fire. Most of the 85 people aboard survived, doctors say.
The DC-9, chartered by private airline Hewa Bora and en route to Kinshasa, crashed shortly after take-off.
Early reports had spoken of dozens of bodies found at the scene.
The DC-9 was chartered by private airline Hewa Bora and had been en route to the capital Kinshasa.
DR Congo has one of the world's poorest air safety records with eight crashes in 2007, Reuters news agency notes.
DR Congo has one of the world's poorest air safety records with eight crashes in 2007, Reuters news agency notes.
A third of the runway at Goma's airport was affected by a lava flow from a volcanic eruption that occurred there six years ago.
A third of the runway at Goma's airport was affected by a lava flow from a volcanic eruption that occurred there six years ago.
This makes Goma a particularly difficult spot for take-off, local sources in the aviation industry say.
This makes Goma a particularly difficult spot for take-off, local sources in the aviation industry say.
Unidentified dead
Buckets of water
Nine people were killed as a result of the crash, United Nations staff and regional governor Julien Mpaluku said.
UN staff who visited two local hospitals found 55 injured plane passengers, six of them in a serious condition.
Reports say the plane never really left the ground and most passengers were able to escape after the crash before fire took hold.
It is still unclear if any of those killed or injured were on the ground in the Birere district at the time.
A plume of black smoke rose above the area which is home to small shops and restaurants.
A plume of black smoke rose above the area which is home to small shops and restaurants.
"We have already picked up... dozens of bodies," Julien Mpaluku, governor of the surrounding province of North Kivu, was quoted as saying by The Associated Press.
"There are a lot of flames, which makes it difficult to know if the bodies we are picking up are those of passengers of the plane or else passers-by or people that lived in the area where the plane crashed."
Airport and Red Cross sources also spoke of dozens of people killed.
"People are coming with buckets of water to put out the fire," a witness told Reuters.
"People are coming with buckets of water to put out the fire," a witness told Reuters.
"The [United Nations] is here trying to keep back the crowds."
"The [United Nations] is here trying to keep back the crowds."
The witness added that one building had been destroyed and two others were charred by the fire.
The witness added that one building had been destroyed and two others were charred by the fire.
The business district of Birere is the beating heart of the city, the BBC's Arnaud Zajtman says.
The business district of Birere is the beating heart of the city, the BBC's Arnaud Zajtman says.
Doctors' strike
Doctors' strike
Officials said six people aboard the plane had survived, including the pilot and co-pilot.
British MP Eric Joyce, who heads the Commons all-party group on the Great Lakes region of Africa, witnessed the scenes at a hospital about a mile from the crash site.
British MP Eric Joyce, who heads the Commons all-party group on the Great Lakes region of Africa, witnessed the scenes at a hospital about a mile from the crash site.
"The injuries seem to be primarily people on the aircraft but it's very hard to tell," he told the BBC.
"The injuries seem to be primarily people on the aircraft but it's very hard to tell," he told the BBC.
"Certainly a lot of people around here have been affected, there are lots of relatives and casualties coming in.
"Certainly a lot of people around here have been affected, there are lots of relatives and casualties coming in.
"The problem appears to be that there aren't enough vehicles to get everyone out."
"The problem appears to be that there aren't enough vehicles to get everyone out."
Mr Joyce added doctors in the city had been holding a strike on Tuesday
Mr Joyce added doctors in the city had been holding a strike on Tuesday
"So I think doctors will be making their way to the hospitals but at the moment but they may not have all been in the hospitals when this crash took place," he said.
"So I think doctors will be making their way to the hospitals but at the moment but they may not have all been in the hospitals when this crash took place," he said.
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