Over a hundred rescue workers are on the scene to find survivors and put out a fire that started after the crash, local media reports.
No survivors have been found so far.
At least 40 of the 72 on board have been confirmed dead, says a spokesperson for Nepal’s military.
– The plane is a total wreck, says Krishna Bhandari in the media to the news agency Reuters.
There were 69 passengers on board. Four people were in the crew.
Several of the passengers were foreigners. According to the authorities, five Indians, four Russians, two South Koreans, an Irishman, an Australian, a Frenchman and an Argentine were on board.
RESCUE WORK: A major rescue work is underway after the plane crash in Nepal. Photo: YUNISH GURUNG / AFP / NTB
Thick, black smoke
Pictures from local TV stations show thick, black smoke from the crash site. According to local media, rescue teams are working hard to put out a fire on the plane.
The plane crashed at the airport in Pokhara, which is Nepal’s second largest city. The plane took off from the capital Kathmandu at 10 local time, which means at 05.15 Norwegian time. It writes Kantipur TV.
The plane that crashed was an ATR 72. It is a twin-engine turboprop plane. Reuters writes that the plane was 15 years old.
The plane belonged to Yeti Airlines, a company that operates in Nepal and flies domestically.
STYRT: It is known what caused the accident in Nepal on Sunday morning. Photo: KRISHNA MANI BARAL / AFP / NTB
Worst in five years
Reuters initially reported that the accident was the worst in 30 years, but later corrected it to be the worst in five years.
The news agency writes that plane accidents are not unusual in Nepal, a country that has eight of the world’s 14 highest mountain peaks, including Mount Everest. The weather can change quickly and lead to very difficult flying conditions.
