Military Plane Crash Leaves 'At Least 247' Dead In Algeria

Reports say the crash happened at the military airport in Boufarik (Image: Google)

It is being reported that at least 247 people have died in an Algerian military plane crashed near the capital, Algiers.

Privately-owned Ennahar news website cited the Civil Protection forces saying that among the dead are 26 members of Western Sahara's Algeria-backed Polisario Front.

Polisario Front are an independence movement trying to end the Moroccan presence in the Western Sahara. 

Ennahar news website said around 14 ambulances and 10 fire engines attended scene of the crash near Boufarik military airport.

The authorities are yet to announce how many were on board but the Ennahar news website reported that the plane has a capacity of 200.

The website of privately-owned El Khabar newspaper stated the plane crashed shortly after take-off.

Videos on Twitter from Al Arabiya shows thick smoke rising from the wreckage.

No official death toll has been released.

There's no information on what caused the crash.

More to follow.