DR Congo

Goma plane crash kills 37

Article published on the 2008-04-16 Latest update 2008-04-16 09:35 TU

Volunteers fighting plane crash fire in Goma
(Photo : AFP)

More than 100 people are said to have been injured in the crash. Rescue workers have been unable to establish whether victims are passengers, or people who were on the ground at the time of the crash.

The jet crashed into the Birere market area of Goma, the capital of the eastern province of Nord-Kivu at 1230 GMT yesterday. The Hewa Bora airlines flight had been heading for the capital, Kinshasa. UN fire crews were sent to the crash site to help put out the blaze which followed the crash.

The accident is the fifth fatal plane crash in DR Congo since June 2007. The last accident was in October 2007, and left 50 people dead after a cargo plane crashed into a district of Kinshasa. Hewa Bora airlines had last week received a ban on flying in European airspace by the European Union.

Crew from the airline have told reporters that the plane had had problems at takeoff.

A government delegation is due in Goma today to begin an investigation at the request of President Joseph Kabila.