
MANILA, Philippines – A four-seater cargo plane crashed into a slum area in Parañaque City yesterday, triggering an inferno that left at least 14 people, including two children, dead and scores injured, officials said.
Mayor Florencio Bernabe said rescuers recovered the charred bodies of at least 12 people, including two victims believed to be the pilot and co-pilot of the twin engine Beechcraft light plane.
Bernabe said there were also reports that 20 people have been rushed to different hospitals. Most of the victims were brought to the Parañaque Doctors Hospital and Parañaque Community Hospital along the South Luzon Expressway.
Gwendolyn Pang, secretary-general of the Philippine Red Cross, also said an unspecified number of people had been taken to hospital with burn injuries.
Chief Inspector Enrique Sy of the Parañaque City police said at least five people were killed instantly when the plane crashed and exploded near F. Serrano Elementary School at Annex 35 Taiwan in Barangay Don Bosco.
The plane, with tail number RP-C824, crashed at around 2:30 p.m. yesterday shortly after it took off from the Manila Domestic Airport for San Jose, Mindoro, officials said.
Bernabe said witnesses saw the plane dive down to the playground near the school building and exploded upon impact.
“Most of the victims were children who were playing and some residents doing their daily chores,” Bernabe said.
The plane crash triggered a fire that engulfed the school building and at least 70 shanties nearby.