July 4, 2021: A military plane carrying at least 85 people crashed in the southern Philippines on Sunday, killing at least 17 people and 15 others rescued from the burning wreckage, a local media reported.

A C130 plane of the Philippine Air Force crashed in Barangay, at 11:30 am, CNN Philippines reported.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Cirilito Sobejana said rescue operations for passengers and crew are ongoing.

The plane was transporting troops from southern Cagayan de Oro city, Sobejana said. Government forces have been battling Abu Sayyaf militants in the predominantly Muslim province of Sulu for decades.