BISHKEK, Aug 24: A passenger plane crashed shortly after take-off from the Kyrgyzstan capital of Bishkek on Sunday, claiming the lives of 71 people onboard, the health ministry said.

The Boeing-737 operated by Kyrgyz air company Itek Air was en route to Iran when it went down near Bishkek’s Manas airport, the civil aviation ministry.

“According to new information, there are 71 dead,” health ministry spokeswoman Yelena Bayalinova said. She had earlier given a toll of 87 dead.

“There are currently 15 injured at Bishkek hospital including two who are in intensive care,” said Bayalinova. “More injured are being taken to hospital.” Prime Minister Igor Chudinov said there were 15 foreigners among the 83 passengers of the plane that also had a seven-member crew, the Interfax news agency reported.Among the foreigners were Iranian, Turkish, Chinese and Canadian nationals, he said.

Rescue teams and firefighters were dispatched to the site of the crash a few kilometres from the airport where the plane was engulfed in fire, officials said.

US military officials at a nearby base sent firefighters and medical staff to the scene, said Aygul Karemshakova, a press spokeswoman for the US base in Kyrgyzstan.

The civil aviation ministry earlier said at least 34 people had survived the crash.—AFP