Venezuela crash kills at least 24

The aircraft crashed on a populated area

A DC-3 aircraft has crashed in southern Venezuela, killing all 24 people on board, most of them foreign tourists.

The plane, Rutaca airlines flight 225, came down at 1815 local time (0015 GMT) in a shantytown near Cuidad Bolivar, about 335 miles south-east of Venezuela's capital Caracas, after stopping to refuel.

It had been on route from the popular tourist destination of Canaima, home of the world's highest waterfall, Angel Falls, to Margarita Island in the Caribbean.

The passengers included six Americans, five Dutch, four Italians, two Hungarians, two Venezuelans and one Austrian, plus the four Venezuelan crew.

There were no survivors, making the accident one of the worst air disasters in Venezuelan history.

British diplomats in Venezuela confirmed there were no Britons aboard, contrary to earlier reports.

Casualties on ground

The plane had apparently developed problems and was trying to return to Ciudad Bolivar to land when it crashed into the shantytown, according to the BBC's Adam Eastern in Venezuela.

A 22-year-old woman and her two children on the ground were injured as the plane hit their home. They are being treated for burns at a local hospital, the director of Venezuela's national civil defence agency told the Associated Press news agency.

Rescue workers did not find anyone alive on board

Details about the plane are not available, but it must have been more than 50 years old.

The DC-3 model was produced from 1935 to 1947. Enthusiasts estimate that there are still about 1,000 DC-3s in use.

Our correspondent says old planes are "typical on this type of route" because airports are not equipped to handle modern jets.

Rutaca is a small local carrier that flies to Trinidad, Guyana and local tourist destinations.

An investigation has begun into the cause of the crash.