Fourteen people have been killed after a cargo plane crashed on Monday in the Republic of Congo's economic capital Pointe-Noire, killing several, according to local police.

Police said the dead included two pilots, two machinists and five passengers who had illegally boarded the plane. Police warned that more casualties may be reported.

The plane from the Congolese capital Brazzaville crashed into a residential area in the city failing to land on the sea, because of mechanic problems.

Ambulances rushed to the scene to move the bodies of victims to a morgue and the injured to the hospital, the witnesses said, adding they did not yet know the exact number of people killed in the tragedy.

Heavy losses of property were also reported.

The accident was the second in the Central African country since 2009, when an Antonov cargo plane crashed in the suburbs of Brazzaville.

In 2008, the Congolese government banned the type of Antonov from being used as a passenger plane.