A plane crash today was believed to have caused an "enormous number of victims" in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic (CAR).
Witnesses earlier said that what appeared to be a Sudan Airways cargo plane came down at around midday on the working-class Guitangola residential and busy market district of the city.
About a dozen bodies have so far been recovered, it has been reported.
"The crash must have caused an enormous number of victims because it's a really crowded area," the airport worker said.
Bangui airport staff could not release immediate details about the plane, but said the pilot had asked for permission to land because of technical problems.
"The pilot thought he was able to land. We saw him making his final approach. He cut off all four engines," the witness at the airport said.
"He was flying a little low. Then he suddenly disappeared."
The airport worker said he had tried to reach the crash site, but was not allowed within 300 metres of it.
"People were crying everywhere. There were thousands of people. I even saw people walking away with bits of the aircraft," the airport worker said.
AFP