An airplane crashed into a residential area in Tokyo on Sunday, setting fire to several houses and reportedly killing three people, according to officials and local media.

A five-seater plane crashed shortly after it took off from Tokyo’s Chofu airport. The plane crashed into at three houses, causing damage and injuries to people. According to local reports, three people have died in the crash. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters

Three houses and two cars were on fire after the plan crashed into the residential district. Footage showed a mangled plane, broken up with its tail upside down, resting on a residential lot. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters

Firefighters were battling the blaze and treating the casualties. Authorities said they were still not sure of how many people were injured or how the plane crashed into the area. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters