– We currently know that two people are burnt and there are possible deaths, writes City of Santee on Twitter.
To NBC News Assistant Fire Chief Justin Matsushita in the city’s fire department confirms that there are “several deaths”, and that two deaths have so far been confirmed.
The plane crashed into two residential buildings and also hit a van, according to local authorities.
The driver of the van is said to have died, according to one reporter for the TV channel CBS 8.
TRACKED VEHICLE: The small plane hit a van when it crashed into a residential area in Santee on Monday afternoon local time. Photo: Ryan Grothe / MEGA / NTB
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Heavy fire
It is not yet known how many were on board the plane, or how many were injured when the plane hit the area.
According to local authorities, it is a small aircraft. NBC San Diego writes that the plane was of the type Cessna C340, and was on its way from Montgomery Field in San Diego to Yuma in Arizona.
Pictures from what is supposed to be the crash site show flames and heavy black smoke from an area with buildings.
NBC San Diego writes that at least one building appears to have been set on fire. The fire service has initiated extinguishing both this building and nearby buildings.
THE CRISIS SITE: Black smoke and flames rise from the crash site in Santee, California. Photo: Twitter
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– A war zone
A man NBC San Diego has spoken to says that he hurried to the neighborhood after the accident, to look at the house where his parents live.
– It is a war zone, it is no longer a house, he says, and adds that everything the parents owned is destroyed.
According to the channel, the crash site will be near Santana High School. The school writes on Twitter that all students are safe.
The San Diego Sheriff urges residents to stay away from the area.
The city of Santee is located about 30 miles northeast of San Diego.
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