CNN
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Several passengers have been rescued from a commercial flight operated by Precision Air that crashed on Lake Victoria in Tanzania on Sunday, officials said.
Boats with emergency rescue personnel were dispatched to the crash site on Africa’s largest lake near Bukoba airport. It was not immediately known how many passengers were on board or if there were any casualties in the crash.
Speaking at the site, Kagera Provincial Police Commander William Mwambake said “everything is under control now”.
“Rescue operations are going on and we have rescued many people so far and we will ensure that eventually we rescue everyone and get the plane out of the water,” he said.
The rescued have been taken to our referral hospital.
Video taken by onlookers on the shores of Lake Victoria and circulated on social media showed the plane submerged in water with emergency responders coordinating rescue efforts from nearby boats.
Tanzania’s president called for calm on social media while rescue workers worked at the crash site.
“I am saddened to learn that a Precision Air plane has crashed on Lake Victoria in the Kagera region,” President Samoa Zuluhu wrote on Twitter on Sunday.
“My condolences to all those affected by this incident. We will remain calm while the rescue operation continues and pray to God to help us,” he said.
Precision Air is a Tanzanian airline based out of Dar es Salaam.
This is a developing story – more to come
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