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A Boeing 737 airliner belonging to Eastern Airlines with 132 people on board crashed in southern China.
So far, the Chinese authorities know that there are no foreign passengers.
Correspondent Song Wook from Beijing.
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White smoke rises from the top of the mountain.
Objects that look like airplane wreckage are scattered throughout the mountains.
Yesterday (21st) afternoon, China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737 airliner crashed in Teng County, Wuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China.
A total of 132 people were on board.
[China state-run CCTV report: It has been confirmed that the airliner has crashed.
There were 132 people on board, 123 passengers and 9 crew members.]
The plane was scheduled to depart from Changshui Airport in Kunming, Yunnan, China at 1:15 pm local time yesterday and arrive at Baiyun Airport in Guangzhou, Guangdong, at 3:00 pm local time.
However, contact was suddenly lost around 2:20, and two minutes later, the descent rapidly from an altitude of 8,800m, Chinese media reported.
Surveillance cameras near the scene caught the rod-shaped object falling at high speed.
Witnesses said, "There was an explosion with a roar," and "there was nothing recognizable at the scene."
More than 1,000 rescue workers were dispatched, and Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered a swift search and rescue.
While the exact number of casualties is not yet known, Chinese authorities said that there are currently no foreign passengers, but they are continuing to check.
Eastern Airlines issued a statement expressing its deepest condolences to the passengers and crew killed in the accident.
The plane that crashed has been operating since 2015, and Eastern Airlines has temporarily suspended flights of the same type.