At least 51 people were killed, and seven were injured when an aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing near a Taiwan island.

According to TVBS network, the aircraft was flight GE222, of the Taiwanese TransAsia Airways airline, which crashed into a residential area of Penghu island.

Although international networks speak of 51 dead and 7 wounded, the Chinese People’s Daily agency relies on local authorities that argue that the dead amount to 47 and the wounded to 11.

As local media reports, the ATR-72 aircraft was performing a route towards the Penghu islands. The plane was occupied by 58 people, according to preliminary information.

A major fire has broken out at the crash site, while buildings and cars are seriously damaged or destroyed.

The area is experiencing extremely bad weather, with Matmo hurricane hitting Taiwan in force.

According to the regional fire department, the aircraft crashed only a short distance from the local airport, on which it was scheduled to land 35 minutes later.

At the same time, local media states that the pilot did not send out a mayday.

Meanwhile, according to reports, flight GE222 included four children and four crew, while there is no reports of Chinese People’s Daily reports that seven survivors managed to emerge from the wreckage without needing any help.