Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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October 5, 2007

Death Toll Rises in Congo Plane Crash
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=19BFD2C:5F753BCA39991A3BE96751405BFD13C49574F7DCC14957C0
 Russian-built
Antonov 26 crashed into residential neighborhood in Kinshasa, shortly
after takeoff The death toll from Thursday's plane crash in Congo's
capital, Kinshasa, has risen to at least 37 people.

Rescue workers are still picking through wreckage from the crash early
Friday, looking for bodies or more survivors.

The Russian-built Antonov 26 crashed into a residential neighborhood
shortly after takeoff, destroying several homes as it came down and
igniting a fire that burned into the early hours of Friday.

There has been no word on what caused the accident.

Onlookers stand around the wreckage of a cargo plane that crashed
into a residential neighborhood in Kinshasa, 05 Oct 2007At least one
member of the plane's crew survived the crash and is in a local
hospital, reportedly in critical condition.

Reports from the scene say 22 of the dead were killed on the plane,
while 15 victims died from injuries sustained on the ground.

The plane belonged to the Congolese airline "Africa One." "Africa One"
is one of more than 50 Congolese airlines banned from flying in Europe
because of safety concerns.

In 1996, a larger Antonov 26 hit a Kinshasa market and killed 300
people, in one of the worst air accidents in Congo's history.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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